Button wants to cut gap

Reigning champion out to beat McLaren team-mate Hamilton

Last updated: 29th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Button wants to cut gap

Button: Still fighting for title

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Jenson Button has stated that he does not intend to let the deficit to championship leader Lewis Hamilton grow any larger at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.

The reigning world champion, who won two races early in the season, held a 21-point lead over his McLaren team-mate after the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

But Hamilton has enjoyed a fine run of results since, finishing ahead of Button in six consecutive races to open-up a 15-point cushion at the top of the drivers' standings.

Button, who is second in the points table, was unable to end the streak as he made a poor start after out-qualifying his fellow Briton in Hockenheim last time out.

However, the former Brawn GP driver was pleased with the pace he displayed at the German Grand Prix and believes he is now ready to bring a halt to Hamilton's recent dominance.

Step forward

"Germany was a pretty good weekend, and hopefully Hungary will be another step forward," Button said.

"I'm 15 points behind Lewis, which in old money (under the previous points system) was about six, and I don't want that to grow any more.

"I thought I was going to claw a few points back in Germany, but that didn't happen, so I hope I do this weekend."

McLaren struggled to match the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari in Germany but Button thinks the Hungaroring circuit should be more suited to their package.

He added: "We had improvements with the blown diffuser, but the downforce level wasn't right for us.

Quick

"We were very quick in a straight line, seven to eights kilometres (per hour) if not more. That's because we didn't have a downforce level that suited the circuit.

"We weren't in the right area with that, so it was pretty tricky for us over the weekend. It was like driving on ice.

"Going into Hungary it's a circuit where you throw downforce at the car, so we know the car will be competitive there, but I don't know how competitive yet.

"The Red Bull is still going to be strong, as will Ferrari with the new package they have because from what Fernando told me, they did have quite a big upgrade in Germany.

"But it will be a better circuit for us because we have a package that will suit that circuit.

"It's a circuit I really enjoy, and although it's a little bumpy in places, it's one that should suit the car pretty well."