Jenson Button says he was happy - if surprised - to qualify fifth at Interlagos

Jenson Button said he’s very happy to qualify fifth for the Brazilian GP and is “ready to pounce” if the Mercedes and Williams cars lining up ahead come to grief in Sunday’s race.

With Williams giving Mercedes something to think about at Interlagos on Saturday afternoon, it was Button who emerged at the head of the pursuing pack – although the McLaren driver admitted he was surprised to be there.    

“It was interesting,” Button explained to Sky Sports F1. “I really struggled – I think everyone did – to get the tyres working out there. It’s really difficult conditions considering it’s a soft tyre around here, but I’m very happy to be fifth.

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“My qualy runs I wouldn’t say were anywhere near as perfect as they should have been. I locked up massively into Turn 1 on my last lap but luckily my first lap was good enough.

“A long way behind the first four but leading the pack; I don’t think we expected to be fifth, so I’m happy I put the car there.”

Button and McLaren’s last win came in this race two years ago when, in wet conditions, he took the lead after Nico Hulkenberg, then at Force India, collided with Button's then team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Although the forecast rain has yet to materialise, the 2009 World Champion still reckons things might heat up between Hamilton, who qualified his Mercedes alongside that of polesitter Nico Rosberg, with Williams pair Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas right behind.

“The aim is obviously keep the pack behind and I think you’ve got to try and stay as close to the cars in front, in case there’s a bit of action – there always can be here between team-mates,” Button said.

“I think that the Williams could be quick in the race as well, so it could mix it up in front, and we want to be ready to pounce if something happens.”

McLaren can still take fourth in the constructors’ standings from Ferrari, although Button thinks the 47-point gap will be difficult to overhaul.

Even so, team-mate Kevin Magnussen lines up seventh ahead of Ferrari pair Fernando Alonso (eighth) and Kimi Raikkonen (tenth), with Button adding: “It’s a massive gap to Ferrari in the constructors’. But you’ve got to be ambitious, you’ve got to have targets, and it would be great if we could at least challenge them and make them feel like they’re being challenged.

“A good position for the race today and with the next race being double points. We’ll see.”

The 2014 Brazilian GP is live only on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Extensive coverage of Race Day from Interlagos begins at 2:30pm on Sunday with lights out at 4pm.