Traffic in Monaco wasn’t quite as bad as the drivers had expected, yet a few moves caused a little controversy, most of all that between Felipe Massa and Jenson Button in Q3.
Button came into the penultimate turn on his flying lap where he had to dramatically slow down as he sped up to the rear of Felipe Massa’s Ferrari.
“I don’t know what he was doing,” exclaimed Button. “There were only ten drivers on the track so it should have been easy [to make room].
“I don’t know how good the lap would have been but I am very annoyed because he blatantly slowed me down.”
![Franco Colpinto [front] avoided Liam Lawson [back] at the start of the Australian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Franco-Colapinto-F1-Aus-GP-120x86.webp)
Button will start in eighth, three places behind teammate Hamilton.
Felipe Massa gave his side of the story to reporters: “There was a car in front of me and he slowed down, so I slowed down as well,” said the Brazilian. “I then pushed when I saw Jenson coming, so I didn’t do anything on purpose – definitely not.”
![Franco Colpinto [front] avoided Liam Lawson [back] at the start of the Australian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Franco-Colapinto-F1-Aus-GP-350x250.webp)
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