British formula one driver Jenson Button has told his BAR-Honda team that big strides need to be made if they are to keep up their bid to finish in the top three of the world championship this season.
Button finished a disappointing fourth in his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday after entering the race harbouring hopes of claiming his maiden formula one victory.
The 24-year-old driver started from third on the grid but could not find the pace to challenge for a place on the podium on home soil in front of a 100 000 sell-out crowd.
A downcast Button called on his BAR team to push hard and make improvements for the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim before the start of formula one’s testing ban.
”It seems that other people are making bigger steps forward than us and that is something we have to look at,” said Button, who watched McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen finish second behind Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher.
”We have probably dropped back a bit compared to Ferrari and McLaren, although it might also be because they are improving. But it is more competitive now and we need to make that step forward now. We just need to know why we are no longer as close to Ferrari as we thought,” said Button.
”Fourth is not a bad result. But we’d rather do it by scoring podiums and fighting with Ferrari and McLaren,” he added.
After claiming pole at Silverstone, McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen demonstrated the pace of McLaren’s new MP4-19B challenger as he made a searing start before pushing Schumacher hard for victory.
With Williams also breathing down the neck of BAR-Honda for third in the constructors’ championship, Button – also third in the drivers’ standings – is concerned about the year’s remaining seven races.
”We knew after Magny-Cours that they [McLaren] would be quick and they were consistent throughout this race,” said Button.
”We are capable of finding that extra yard and we will keep fighting. But we’re struggling with low grip and we need to sort it sooner rather than later or we will lose more points to McLaren.” — Sapa-AFP