Stranded drivers not expecting exciting race

Drivers stranded down the Valencia grid are not expecting to scythe through the field on Sunday.

Jenson Button qualified ninth and admitted he doubts he will fare much better in the race.

Told by an optimistic reporter at Valencia that ’lots can happen’ over 57 long laps on Sunday, the Briton answered: "Not really, we’re in Valencia. You can’t overtake round here.

"Not a lot happens here in a race. I don’t think it will be the most exciting one."

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is on pole, which is exactly where he wants to be, having travelled to the Spanish port city predicting that overtaking is possible on the streets of Valencia "only with some risk".

In 2010, Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber was lucky to escape unhurt after flipping over backwards in a misunderstanding with backmarker Heikki Kovalainen.

And the Australian will have to spend Sunday among the backmarkers due to qualifying a dismal 19th with KERS and brake issues.

Team consultant Dr Helmut Marko admitted it is unlikely Webber will carve through the field.

"In recent years there were hardly any overtaking moves here, so for Mark’s sake I hope it’s better this time," he told Austrian broadcaster ORF.