McLaren Honda’s British driver Jenson Button signs autographs as he arrives ahead of the qualifying session at the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday.

DPA/Melbourne
McLaren face “a tough day” at the Australian Grand Prix today after struggling in qualifying yesterday, Jenson Button said.
Button, the 2009 Formula One champion, and Fernando Alonso stand-in Kevin Magnussen start at the back of the grid after missing the cut in the first qualifying session.
“This level of performance wasn’t a surprise for us. “We knew from winter testing that the pace wasn’t there, so we knew we weren’t going to be competitive here,” Button said.
“However, there’s a good feeling about the car - I know we’re so far off, but the basic car is there beneath me, and we’re adding to our experience and learning with every lap we do.”
McLaren, now partnered by Honda, experienced reliability problems in pre-season testing and have had to cope with the absence of Alonso following the two-time champion’s crash in testing in Barcelona on February 22.
McLaren will start last on the grid after the two Manor cars did not run because of continuing software problems.
Button looked on the positive side after the team has appeared to overcome the initial reliability issues.
“There’s just a lot of work needed to add power and downforce - but this is an important car for the future of McLaren-Honda,” Button said.
“It’s going to be a really difficult race for us - we haven’t done a race distance yet, and my longest run is 12 laps - but we want to do the best we can because there’s so much learning to be had. “It’ll be a tough day, but we’ll be doing our absolute best.”
McLaren have said they do not know when Alonso, who has rejoined the team from Ferrari, will return after being treated for concussion, or what caused the Spaniard’s crash in Barcelona.
A spokesman told BBC Sport: “Nonetheless, we at McLaren-Honda are continuing to liaise and co-operate with the (international federation) FIA, and with Fernando’s doctors, but it will not be up to us to decide when he will return to the cockpit.
“In the meantime, therefore, all we can say is that he feels fit and well, he is training hard, and he is keen to go racing again as soon as possible.”