Button - I'll clear the air with DC

Brits to discuss Bahrain coming together

Last updated: 25th April 2008

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Jenson Button

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Jenson Button has vowed to clear the air with David Coulthard in the wake of their collision in the Bahrain Grand Prix three weeks ago.

The Englishman blamed his friend immediately after the race, only to subsequently offer a different version of events when the pair later spoke.

Red Bull driver Coulthard said he was "surprised and disappointed" by Button's comments and also said that he is growing "weary" of other drivers who, in his opinion, do not take responsibility for their actions.

The Scot added: "The thing that's most disappointing is when I screw up I admit my mistake, but when other people cause an accident with me, they seem not to.

"I feel it's a bit unfair I'm made out to be some sort of crasher when I've done 230-plus grands prix and generally kept my nose pretty clean."

However, Button is determined to place the incident firmly in the past, the Honda star saying: "I'll talk to him and clear the air.

"I didn't expect to see that (his comments) in the paper, but it is his opinion and fair enough, I've no issue with that.

"But then when he read my views in the media, it probably came across different to my views to him.

"When you get out of the car you are a little more frustrated and the adrenaline is pumping.

"But the basic views were the same - he went out and came back to block when I didn't expect him to.

"It's in the past now. We can get over something like that. We've been racing for years together."

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Coulthard's collision with Button was the second such incident the former has been involved in this season, the 37-year-old also colliding with Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Massa, unsurprisingly, expressed his belief that the fault lay with Coulthard - the latter's second coming together in three races leading to him being labelled 'a crasher'.

Button is adamant Coulthard is anything but, adding: "It's a pity it has been looked upon DC is a crasher because he is not. That is definitely wrong.

"The incident we had certainly does not show him up as a crasher. It was just one of those things, it's happened so let's put it behind us and carry on."

Button also believes the fact he and Coulthard were still racing one another in Bahrain even though they were struggling at the back of the field at the time highlights their drive and determination.

"The one positive is that I guess it shows just how passionate we both are because we were fighting over 17th and 18th place," he added.