Button out to defy the odds

Button: Keen to succeed

You want to win the race and we are here to do that. We will fight for that and if we finish third or fourth or whatever we will take away the points and come back fighting in Bahrain.

Jenson Button
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Jenson Button insists he can still become the first Englishman since 1996 to record a hat-trick of race wins, despite struggling in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying.

The 29-year-old Briton will start fifth on the gird at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel having secured a surprising pole position.

It marks the first time a Brawn GP car has not led the way in qualifying this season and means Button will have his work cut out to emulate David Hill's record.

World championship leader Button remains undeterred, though, and he is adamant his team can still rise to the challenge.

"We are still up there," Button said. "It is not really a big issue but it will be very tough tomorrow to come away with a victory.

"People have won races from a lot further back in a lot different circumstances. There is a lot to play for and it makes for a very exciting race tomorrow.

"You want to win the race and we are here to do that. We will fight for that and if we finish third or fourth or whatever we will take away the points and come back fighting in Bahrain."

Inconsistency

Vettel's success was also the first time this season that a car without the controversial 'double-decker' diffuser has captured pole and came as a bigger shock because of mechanical problems suffered by both Red Bull drivers in morning practice.

Consequently there are doubts that the 21-year-old German can survive the entire race without suffering another engineering issue.

"We haven't had reliability problems and they have obviously had their issues this morning but I'm sure they will solve them," Button continued.

"We struggled in Q2 compared to the Red Bulls and they seem to be very competitive so I don't know how it is going to go tomorrow.

"Our race pace seems to be a bit better than the Red Bulls but we are behind so it is always very difficult. But it makes the race very interesting and exciting.

"It was a little bit of a surprise but in Melbourne they were also very quick. We had the legs on them then but I don't know about here, we will see."