Jenson Button marked his 50th Formula One race for McLaren – today's Belgian Grand Prix – by ending his three-year wait for a pole start.

The British driver last lined up first on the grid in Monaco in 2009 and he whooped with delight when it was confirmed he had recorded the fastest time in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps.

"It's pretty emotional ... it's so important to come back after the break with a good result," said Button, who is seventh in the drivers' standings.

Kamui Kobayashi also put his Sauber on the front row, a career best for him and only the second time a Japanese driver has qualified so high on the grid. Williams' Pastor Maldonado qualified third-fastest but received a three-place penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg in Qualifying 1.

That lifted Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus to third on the grid, with Sergio Perez in the other Sauber fourth. Championship leader Fernando Alonso, who can rack up a record-equalling 24th successive points finish, starts fifth in his Ferrari.

Red Bull's Mark Webber was seventh-fastest in qualifying but also incurred a five-place penalty due to an unscheduled gearbox change, so Lewis Hamilton was promoted to seventh.

Scotland's Paul di Resta starts ninth in his Force India and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel 10th. Michael Schumacher, in his 300th grand prix at the circuit where he made his debut in 1991, is in 13th.