Barcelona, Spain - Season leader Jenson Button claimed his third pole position of the season on Saturday, for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix, in a Brawn GP.

Button topped the bill in a dramatic session which saw last year's race winner Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari eliminated in the first qualifying round and world champion Lewis Hamilton in the second in his McLaren-Mercedes.

The Briton Button clocked 1 minute 20.527 seconds to earn first place on the grid from German Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (1:20.660) and Brazil's Rubens Barrichello in the second Brawn (1:20.762) on the 4.655-kilometres Circuit de Catalunya.

Button, a three time winner from Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain, leads with 31 points from Barrichello (19) and Vettel (18), who won the other race in China. Sunday's race is the fifth of the season. (dpa)