Jenson Button insists that starting from pole position for the first time since the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix will not put him under any extra pressure at Spa.
The 32-year-old’s qualifying performance ends a 60-race pole position drought and means that Button has a strong chance of taking his first Belgian GP win.
“It’s definitely not a stressful position, starting from pole,” said Button. “Life is easier when you start at the front, it always is.
“That’s why we fight to get as near to the front as possible. When you have got no cars in front of you, it’s the best place to be.”
Button is certain that he and his McLaren team have gone the right way on set-up to have a good chance of victory.
But he is unsure which drivers will emerge as his strongest challengers in the race.
“It’s different every race,” he said. “The only two cars that have been consistent are Fernando [Alonso] and the Lotuses, which have been consistently near the front.
“I really don’t know who is going to be quick. We did everything we could on Saturday to get a good balance on high fuel, but if it’s good enough in the race, I don’t know. But we have chosen well in terms of downforce.”
Button did not rule out a challenge from Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi, who he shares the front row with.
But he is not concerned by impressive top speed of the Saubers at the speed trap before Les Combes, which Kobayashi topped at a speed of 330.9km/h, is a concern.
“The Sauber has been extremely quick in the race,” said Button. “But we will have to see.
“The important thing is to have put the car in a good position for [the race]. We’ve got to make the most of what we achieved [in qualifying].
“If you look at the sector times, Kamui was three tenths slower in sector one, which is one corner. So we are either doing something very right in that one corner, or we are very good on the straight.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that you are best in the sector if you have the best top speed, so I’m not worried about that.”
Maurício Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood Mika Häkkinen
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