By Phil Huff
July 23 2005

Jenson Button's qualifying performance, where the BAR Honda driver set second fastest time in preparation for tomorrow's race, was enough to see him sit in on the Fastest Three press conference. Here's what he had to say... Jenson, a great looking weekend for you so far. How do you feel about the car, in terms of competitiveness for the race?

Yeah, it's always very difficult to tell. In qualifying, I wouldn't say my lap was the best. I think we had a bit too much front end on the car. I had a few moments, especially coming into the stadium but it's nice to be on the front row. Our aim for the race is to be as close as, or hopefully closer than we were in Silverstone to Renault and McLaren.

Do you feel you’ve made progress testing with the car in that period since Silverstone?

Yeah, we've made progress but it's not enough to challenge them, I don't think. Maybe I should be a bit more upbeat but that's the way it is. Hopefully we will be closer here which we'll be very happy with and we can keep moving forward throughout the year and hopefully get a bit closer and maybe challenge towards the end, I don't know.

Is Hockenheim a circuit you like? You've been very quick here in the past and as you say, the car looked very energised on that lap. Can you just talk us through your thoughts on Hockenheim, on Germany and racing here?

Well, it's a circuit that I've enjoyed a lot, the shorter Hockenheim, but I've also had some good races on the long circuit. My first year here I finished fourth in the wet behind DC and it's a great circuit, I always enjoy it here. I have never qualified inside the top 12, so it's nice to be on the front row and it's a lot easier starting from this position.

Hotter conditions I think, the temperature went up and down quite a lot, did that favour you?

I don't know, for me the car had a lot of oversteer in it, it wasn't a perfect lap. I think it was the same for all of us, we didn't expect to have so much oversteer in the cars. I had quite a big moment coming into the stadium, which probably lost me quite a bit of time and a few other places on the circuit, so considering that it is not too bad a lap time.

It unfortunately puts you on the dirty side of the track, have you suffered in the past from that?

From the dirty side? I don't think it is just the dirty side, somehow. These two seem to be quite a bit better at the start, but anyway it is a good position for us and our main aim for tomorrow is to be a bit closer to the Renaults and McLarens, because we finished quite a bit behind them at Silverstone. And if we are closer then, that is a positive change for us and a move forward, so that is our aim. I have to say, the team has done a great job this weekend and Honda with the engine and it is great to be back on the front row again.

But you are worried about Renault's starts really?

Yeah, the McLarens and Renaults seem to be very good off the line so it is going to be interesting to see where we end up in turn one, but we will see.