Button, who claimed his maiden podium in Malaysia a fortnight ago, now has the chance of an historic pole in qualifying later today.

The Monaco-based racer’s best display in qualifying is third in Belgium during his first season with Williams in 2000.

Button finished just over 0.1 seconds ahead of Germany’s Ralf Schumacher whose Williams team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya was third-quickest with Japan’s Takuma Sato fourth for BAR.

McLaren, meanwhile, are in deep trouble this weekend after seeing their season of struggle continue.

Britain’s David Coulthard wound up bottom of the time sheets after not taking to the track until late in the second session having slid off late in first practice this morning.

Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was 11th but he stopped at the exit of the pit lane earlier forcing mechanics to toil in the heat in the long push back to the garage.

The Finn already knows he will be demoted 10 places down the grid from his qualifying slot after having a new engine fitted yesterday.

Raikkonen is already 20 points behind Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher after failing to finish the first two races and cannot afford to slip further adrift of the reigning champion.

Schumacher was fifth-fastest – almost 0.9secs adrift of Button – after a cat fight with Montoya during the practice session as the Colombian hovered in his rear view mirror.

But Schumacher will still start favourite to land his third-successive pole of the campaign and put himself in prime position to win tomorrow’s historic race at the magnificent £100million circuit.

The six-time champion is also looking to maintain his perfect start to the 18-race season.

Renault’s Jarno Trulli was sixth-quickest with Cristiano da Matta seventh for Toyota while Rubens Barrichello, quickest yesterday, clocked the eighth-fastest time in the other Ferrari.