Button: I just waited for Kobayashi to pit

Jenson Button admits he felt no need to try and overtake Kamui Kobayashi on track during the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

Button jumped up the order to run fourth behind the Sauber driver after the early Safety Car period in Spain but then ran behind Kobayashi until he dived into he pits - which finally released Button into clear air.

Setting the fastest lap of the race late on, Button took third place behind Sebastian Vettel and team-mate Lewis Hamilton but admitted that he hadn't felt like he should push Kobayashi in the race as a podium finish was already there for the taking

"When we were sitting behind the Safety Car waiting for the restart, I did ask the engineers to tell me Kamui's top-speed figures, so I could see how difficult it was going to be to get past him," the McLaren man said. "It was probably possible, but his race pace was actually pretty respectable, so, even though it meant I wasn't in a position to challenge Lewis, I was comfortable sitting behind Kobayashi.

"It was actually impossible to get close enough to have a go, because of the dirty air. We knew he'd have to pit again, so we just waited for that. I was definitely playing the long-game there.

"It wasn't too damaging being stuck behind Kobayashi because I knew I'd still pick up a podium finish, but once I got in the clear air, it was just so much fun to put the car through its paces. I was just enjoying myself for the last few laps, to be honest. Fastest lap was just a nice bonus."