» Button filthy about Massa block

Jenson Button has vented his frustration after being badly held up by Felipe Massa during the final stages of qualifying.

The Ferrari driver – perhaps a new contender in our “Mobile Chicanes” feature piece? – faces a possible grid penalty by the stewards for a complete failure to use his mirrors during the final 10-minute dash for pole position.

Button – who has not been on the pace at all this weekend – lost crucial time on his first flying lap when he encountered a dawdling Massa on the racing line between the La Rascasse and Anthony Noghes corners.

"I don’t know what he was doing," vented Button, who qualified an eventual eighth on the grid, to the BBC after the session.

Describing the Brazilian’s actions as having “blatantly slowed me down”, the defending World Champion added, "There were only ten drivers on the track so it should have been easy [to move over].”

Massa, however, has denied intentionally obstructing the McLaren driver, claiming that he had himself slowed down in order to gain clear air for a crack at a fast lap time.

"There was a car in front of me, he slowed down and I slowed down as well. Then I pushed and when I see Jenson coming I pushed, so I didn’t do anything on purpose, definitely," said Massa.