The fact that he was blaming it on the set-up was probably further illustration - for actually he had already shown in the third practice session and the first two qualifying sessions that there was very little difference between the single-lap potential of the two set-ups.

BBC: Can faultless Button tame thrilling Hamilton?

Hamilton's attempt to put together the perfect lap was not helped by several lock-ups, with the McLaren driver coming unstuck at the Bico de Pato and in the Senna S combination.

BBC: Massa gains upper hand in Brazil