Monte Carlo - Championship leader Jenson Button on Saturday grabbed the pole position for the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, beating Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen into second place. The BrawnGP driver Brawn waited until the end before posting a time of 1 minute 14.902 seconds for the 3.340-kilometres course through the streets of Monte Carlo to make sure of his fourth pole position of the season.
Team principal Ross Brawn said that Button had shown before that he could compete well when under pressure.
"I think he likes to keep the best for last," said Brawn.
Raikkonen finished 0.025 seconds behind to prevent a BrawnGP one- two on Sunday's grid. Button's team-mate Rubens Barrichello will start from third place on the grid and is joined by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the second row.
Button said that his last lap with which he ensured pole had been tight. "I was right on the edge with that lap and I am chuffed to bits. Today it was a really tight fight.
"All through the weekend I was fighting Rubens. Qualifying was manic on the weekend. It is great to come away with pole.
"The car listens to changes. It is great to be on pole especially on a circuit like this. It is a tough circuit mentally."
The Briton said that being on pole also had some stress to it. "You want to stay in this position in the race and anything less is a downfall."
The third row on the grid belongs to Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari and Nico Rosberg in a Williams.
Barrichello, who on his 37th birthday was challenging for the pole, said that he thought his qualifying session had been very good. "I had a good pace all through. The car has been good.
"Honestly, I thought I had the upper hand on Jenson today. My last lap was very good and that is why I congratulated him, he must have had a fantastic lap because my lap was very good.
"There is nothing more I could have done I am really happy and I am sorry that on my birthday I did not get pole position, I hope to be two better in the race."
The top ten on the grid are completed by McLaren-Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen and Mark Webber in a Red Bull, who are on the fourth row, while Fernando Alonso in a Renault and Williams' Kazuki Nakajima start from the fifth row.
Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes crashed out in the first qualifying session and will start from 16th on the grid.
Ahead of the sixth race of the season, Button leads the standings with 41 points after winning four of the opening five season-races. Barrichello is 14 points behind on 27, while Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is third with 23 points.
