Button does not believe Schumacher pessimism

Michael Schumacher might be bluffing when he doubts his chances of winning the opening races this season.

That is the suspicion of reigning world champion Jenson Button, when contemplating the returning Schumacher’s recent pessimism about the pace of the new Mercedes W01 car.

“He says he is not going to win.  I do not completely believe him,” Briton Button, who drives for McLaren, told the German newspaper Bild.

With the 15 days of pre-season testing now over, the media’s attention has turned to which team to name the 2010 championship favourite.

“Before the tests we thought that there might be four teams able to fight for the title.  But what we’ve seen so far (is) there might be even more,” said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is also reluctant to accept the favourite’s role.

“I don’t think we’re in the strongest position,” said the 2008 world champion, despite setting the fastest time of the recent Barcelona test.

“I think we’re in a strong position, just as they (Mercedes) are.

“I think there are more than four teams at the front,” the 25-year-old added.

“It’s really difficult to say who is the most competitive out of all of them, but at the moment the Ferrari looks the fastest I think,” said Hamilton.

During a McLaren media teleconference on Monday, Hamilton and Button said Sauber, Force India and Williams are the teams that could join the top four near the head of the pace in 2010.

© RIF|GMM