MOTOR RACING: HUNG OUT TO DRY

JENSON BUTTON has conceded he has no chance of beating Michael Schumacher in today's Hungarian Grand Prix, predicting Ferrari will "destroy the whole field".

Button was stunned by Schumacher's pace in qualifying, which took the world champion to his 62nd career pole position as he looks to win a record 12th race of the season.

Schumacher and Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello are in the front row - with Button fourth, one spot behind BAR colleague Takuma Sato.

Button, trying to put a row between Williams and BAR over his future to one side, said: "Ferrari look too strong to do anything about.

"I think the Ferraris are going to pull away at the start and destroy the whole field. But apart from that, it's going to be a pretty good battle between us and the Renaults.

"I didn't expect the Ferraris to be as quick as they are here. I think during the race they are going to be as quick as they always are. If you look at their consistency they are half-a-second, minimum, quicker than us - maybe even a second.

"I didn't think they'd be anywhere near as quick as they are. Wherever they go they are the quickest easily. It's disappointing we weren't able to be closer to them here. There's no chance really."

Button's focus is now on third place and helping BAR close the nine-point gap on second-placed Renault in the constructors' championship.

But he expects an uphill battle, predicting Renault's Fernando Alonso will beat him into the first corner.

He added: "We have to hope both cars score good points, because in the championship we are challenging Renault.

"I've got Fernando starting right behind me, so I'm sure he's going to be a threat in turn one. We need to get a good race here and try to stay with Renault, try and close that gap.

"I don't think I'll be fourth going into turn one - but I hope I'll be just behind Fernando.

"The most important thing for the team is to get as many points as possible. With Renault's Jarno Trulli down in ninth, it's helpful for us."

Scotsman David Coulthard starts 12th after being forced to take his qualifying lap early, having registered a lacklustre pre- qualifying effort which left him down in 16th.

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

ITV1 12.10pm

DRIVERS TABLE

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 110

Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari 74

Jenson Button, BAR 61

Jarno Trulli, Renault 46

Fernando Alonso, Renault 39

J Montoya, Williams 33

David Coulthard, McLaren 19

Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren 18

Takuma Sato, BAR 15

Giancarlo Fisichella ,Sauber 13

Ralf Schumacher, Williams 12

Mark Webber, Jaguar 7

Felipe Massa, Sauber 5

Olivier Panis, Toyota 5

Cristiano da Matta, Toyota 3

Nick Heidfeld, Jordan 3

Timo Glock, Jordan 2

Antonio Pizzonia, Williams 2

Zsolt Baumgartner, Minardi 1

THEGRID

1. M Schumacher Ferrari 1:19.146

2. R Barrichello Ferrari 1:19.323

3. T Sato BAR 1:19.693

4. J Button BAR 1:19.700

5. F Alonso Renault 1:19.996

6. A Pizzonia Williams 1:20.170

7. J Montoya Williams 1:20.199

8. G Fisichella Sauber 1:20.324

9. J Trulli Renault 1:20.411

10. K Raikkonen McLaren 1:20.570

11 Mark Webber Jaguar 1:20.730 12 David Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:20.897 13 Olivier Panis Toyota 1:21.068 14 Christian Klien Jaguar 1:21.118 15 Ricardo Zonta Toyota 1:21.135 16 Nick Heidfeld Jordan Cosworth 1:22.180 17 Giorgio Pantano Jordan Cosworth 1:22.356 18 Zsolt Baumgartner Minardi Cosworth 1:24.329 19 Gianmaria Bruni Minardi Cosworth 1:24.679 20 Felipe Massa Sauber Petronas No Time

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