Button insists 2010 car criticism ‘positive’

Jenson Button insists his latest criticism of McLaren’s 2010 car is “positive”.

The British team’s group chairman Ron Dennis publicly scolded the reigning world champion and his teammate Lewis Hamilton recently for pointing out the weaknesses of the MP4-25.

But after qualifying two seconds off the pace in Hungary, and finishing the race eighth as both the drivers and the team lost their championship leads, 30-year-old Button insists his current comments are just a statement of fact.

“We’re not as quick as the Red Bulls at this moment in time,” he said.  “You can see that on the circuit.  It’s not a negative thing.  It’s a positive criticism.”

Button said he is not being critical of the team, but instead is urging McLaren to work together to bring the car back onto the pace.

“The position we’re in is not about pointing the finger.  When I say our car isn’t as quick as another car, I mean it is not as quick,” he explained.

“But it’s a team effort.  We win together and we lose together.  It’s as much about me giving as much input as I can to improve the car as it is about the guys back at the factory making the car go quicker in their way.

“It’s like me saying I made a mistake out on the circuit.  That’s my fault.  So me saying the car’s not quick enough — it’s not quick enough, but I’m going to try everything I can to ensure it gets quicker,” added Button.

He backs the Woking based outfit – the winner of 12 constructors’ and 8 drivers’ world championships – to improve.

“You do have peaks and troughs in formula one and when you are fighting at championship level,” said Button.

“At the moment we are not in a trough, but we are not as strong as the Red Bulls.

“But I’d be surprised if this team didn’t pull something out.  I have every confidence they will.”

© RIF | GMM