Formula One: Button on pole at Belgium GP

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AFP) - Jenson Button took his first pole position for McLaren on Saturday when he clocked the fastest time during qualifying for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

It was the 31-year-old Briton's first pole in 60 races for the Woking-based team, who endured a tough time, particularly in qualifying during the first half of the season.

The 2009 champion clocked a best lap time of the historic Spa Francorchamps circuit of 1min 47.573sec, edging out Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber by two tenths of a second.

Charismatic Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams was third quickest followed by Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus and Mexican Sergio Perez of Williams.