Monaco: Button quickest after rainy second practice

Jenson Button laid down a psychological marker ahead of Saturday's all important qualifying session by finishing fastest after Thursday's rain interrupted second session of free practice.

Button was quickest just before the rain interrupted FP2

Button, who won the race in 2009, posted a quickest time of 1:15.746 on the super soft compound tyre, just before rain fell on the Monaco circuit. It meant that there was no chance of anyone else bettering his time, the McLaren ending the session ahead of Romain Grosjean's Lotus and the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.

Spanish Grand Prix winner pastor Maldonado was fifth fastest but other leading contenders Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton were 10th and 11th respectively as the weather played a big part.

After glorious sunshine had greeted teams and drivers for the morning qualifying session, the clouds rolled into the Principality during the afternoon. And with the forecast rain imminent it did not take long for teams to switch to the super soft compound for the first time, Button immediately bettering Fernando Alonso's morning mark by over a second.

The predicted light shower caused a lull in proceedings, with the circuit slightly too slippery for slicks but not dry enough for wet or intermediate tyres. Timo Glock was the first to venture out again, tip toeing around on the soft compound. And as the circuit began to dry further, so others followed him out.

A further rain shower allowed teams to experiment with the intermediate compound, gaining valuable date for the weekend ahead. Both Williams drivers struggled in the conditions, both Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado running down the escape road at Mirabeau, Sergio Perez following suit shortly after.

And with rain forecast on both Saturday and Sunday, there are more questions than answers after Friday's running.