Button focused on qualifying performance

Jenson Button is focused on an improvement during qualifying at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix as he returns to the circuit where he claimed his first win on the way to the world championship last year.

The 30-year-old secured eighth on the grid on his McLaren debut at the season-opening race in Bahrain earlier this month but then managed to make up just one place during the race as he struggled to find a way past Michael Schumacher.

A ban on race refuelling and a single tyre change resulted in very little overtaking around the Sakhir circuit, making the performance on the Saturday even more crucial.

"Everyone is talking about the race in Bahrain not being the most exciting but I think everyone needs to look at the positive that qualifying was a lot more fun to watch and a lot more fun to take part in," said Button.

"We learned that qualifying is very important and we did not get it right and that is an area we have obviously been talking about over the last few days.

"The car was good in practice but then not in qualifying and while our race pace was much better I was stuck behind Michael for the whole race so it was a little bit frustrating.

"We headed back to the factory straight after for a debrief which went really well. We know we were weak in a few areas that we can put right and a few other areas that maybe we can't quite yet.

"But we come here I think very well prepared.

"Nothing has changed since the last race.The Red Bull is a very good car as is the Ferrari.

"We were not on their pace in qualifying or even in the race (in Bahrain) so we have to make a step forward and we don't really have any big upgrades here.

"I'd like to win. I think when you are in a quick car you want to win every race you go to but whether that is possible we have to wait and see."

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