Jenson Button says that he simply ‘didn’t get a lap together in Q2' which resulted in him in qualifying in a lowly 12th place for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.
This was the second time this season the Brit failed to progress into final leg of qualifying. But with Kevin Magnussen making it into Q3, questions were asked as to why the most experienced driver on the grid failed to replicate the result of his rookie teammate.
"On the first lap of my final run in Q2, I came across one of the Toro Rossos at the Swimming Pool,” rued Button. “I don’t think he initially saw me, then he tried to back out of the corner, but there wasn’t enough room for two cars into the second part of that particular corner.
"It’s a pity; the pace was there in Q1, but I didn’t get a lap together in Q2. No excuses,” he added.
With overtaking a difficult task on the streets of Principality, the 34-year-old is expecting a tough race tomorrow.
"The race will be tough starting from 12th position – the tyres last so long around here, so it could end up being quite processional. Maybe somebody will be brave and try some moves and make the race a bit of fun. Let’s see if that upsets the order,” Button said.
The 2009 world champion also didn’t think a wet race would improve his chances of a good result, saying it would be difficult to get enough temperatures in the tyres. "I’m not hoping for rain on Sunday; no driver likes the wet around here, especially with these tyres – you can’t get enough temperature into them. For everybody’s sake, I think it’ll be better if it’s dry tomorrow.”
Kevin Magnussen on the other side of the garage wasn’t entirely satisified with his result despite making into Q3 for the first time in three races. "I’m not completely happy to be starting eighth, but we pretty much got the best out of what we had; maybe seventh would have been possible – at a push. Nonetheless, the car felt really good – it’s just frustrating when you see the laptimes, because it feels like we should be higher up, the 21 year old said.”