KICKED IN THE BUTT

JENSON BUTTON'S title bid was hit by a pre-race row after a manic qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Brit was dumped five places down the grid for failing to slow down when the yellow warning flags came out in yesterday's second period.

Brawn GP team-mate and nearest rival Rubens Barrichello was also hit with the same penalty.

It meant Button went into this morning's race 12th on the grid - two behind Barrichello - after stewards took FOUR hours to make their decision.

To rub salt into the wounds, his other challenger Sebastian Vettel started on pole.

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi sparked the controversial incident after smashing into a wall at the famous figure-of- eight track sending debris all over the circuit.

Button, 29, insisted: "That was a manic qualifying session.

"I saw the front wing on the floor and took avoiding action.

"I don't think it was safe to lift off at that point as I could have had another car behind me.

"But the regulations state that if you see yellow warning flags, then you have to lift off the throttle and I didn't do that.

"I have to respect the stewards' decision. That's the way it is, fair enough.

"I am sure I might have thought differently had Rubens not been punished along with me."

Button went into the 15th round of the 17-race season leading the Brazilian by 15 points.

German racer Vettel, who qualified just ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, was 10 points further back.

Team chief Ross Brawn said: "It's disappointing but it didn't really change anything from our point of view.

"It could have been worse. There have been far more draconian penalties handed down for a similar offence.

"In hindsight, we should have shouted 'lift' over the radio but it is not our policy to tell that to the drivers. But just a little lift would have solved the problem."

The qualifying battle was full of incident with the medical car sent out twice in the middle session before Buemi's shunt. Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari ploughed head-on into the Degner barriers after running wide on entry.

Then Toyota's Timo Glock was taken to hospital after he rammed into the tyre barrier, suffering a wound to his leg and back pains.

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