Button has no hope from Monaco

Monaco: Jenson Button has poured cold water on hopes that he could finally become a Formula One winner in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

The Honda driver's home British Grand Prix follows the season's glamour highlight and organisers of that race said this week that a long-awaited Button success in the Mediterranean principality would ensure a sell-out crowd at Silverstone.

"I'd love to but that's not really on the cards," Button said in Monaco. "We're not going to be as quick as the Renaults or the Ferraris, no way. They beat us by a minute in Barcelona, almost a second a lap."

Sunday will be Button's 107th start and the second place he took in Monaco in 2004 still ranks as one of his best performances.

After quick times in pre-season testing raised high expectations, Honda have struggled to match the pace of champions Renault and resurgent Ferrari.

Button has qualified consistently well but has taken just one podium finish, a third place in Malaysia in March.

The Briton did not race in Monaco last year as BAR, Honda's predecessors, were suspended for two grands prix for fuel and weight irregularities.

A Monaco resident, Button said he was raring to go after driving round the tight and twisty street circuit in a road car on Wednesday.

"You don't forget Monaco. It's a circuit that if you've done it once, it stays in your mind. The only thing that's changed since 2004 is the asphalt," he said.

"I'm looking forward to it, I've missed this place." Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello, with Ferrari last season, said he was concerned that qualifying -- crucial at a circuit where overtaking is almost impossible -- could turn into a dangerous lottery on Saturday.

"I think the car could actually work quite well here," he said. "The problem is going to be just being on track at the right time.

"I think we should have a different qualifying system for here. First qualifying is going to be like hell, really," the Brazilian added.

"If somebody goes out of the pits, just thinking about life, it's going to be quite dangerous in a way."

Qualifying has changed this season from each driver having a solo lap to a three-part knockout format that will see 22 drivers all out on track and fighting to make the cut in the first 15-minute session.