Newly-acclaimed drivers world champion Briton Jenson Button clocked the quickest time in Saturday's final free practice session ahead of qualifying for this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old Englishman, in his Brawn GP car, outpaced compatriot and 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren Mercedes by just 0.002 seconds to set the pace.

Button's Brawn team-mate veteran Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was third fastest, just a further two-tenths of a second behind, with Swiss Sebastien Buemi fourth for Toro Rosso.

German Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber was fifth ahead of Finn Heikki Kovalainen in the second McLaren, with veteran Italian Jarno Trulli seventh for Toyota and Pole Robert Kubica, in the second BMW, taking seventh and eighth places.

German Adrian Sutil of Force India was ninth, Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari 10th and German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull 11th.

Veteran Italian Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Ferrari wound up 19th after another difficult session for him - and admitted he was interested in a return to Force India next season - while Australian Mark Webber, in the second Red Bull, was 15th and two-times champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso 16th.