Button wary of GP2 stars at Honda

Eurosport - Tue, 11 Nov 10:48:00 2008

Briton Jenson Button is hopeful of retaining his drive with Honda in 2009 - but knows the younger, skilled contenders that will test with the squad this month have the ability to take his seat.

2008 Belgian GP Honda Button - 0

Honda struggled to compete with their 2008 car as they concentrated on development for 2009, leaving Button and team-mate Rubens Barrichello frustrated.

The Japanese outfit are yet to announce their driver line-up for next season, and will give tests to GP2 pair Bruno Senna and Lucas di Grassi in the next two weeks.

Button, appearing at a media briefing for the Race of Champions event at Wembley Stadium, paused when asked about his future.

"I don't know how to answer that one really," he finally answered. "I'm going testing in a couple of weeks, which is positive, I guess."

Speaking afterwards to Eurosport, he said: "I haven't signed anything, but they (Honda) know how I feel and I think I know how they feel. Hopefully we'll sort something out soon.

"Bruno and Lucas are both testing in Barcelona and it'll be interesting to see how they cope with it.

"These days for drivers in GP2 it's not such a big leap: the GP2 car is only six or seven seconds slower than an F1 car and probably not that much slower than our car last season. And it's slick tyres that they race on, so very similar to next year."

Button, 28, is an experienced hand in Formula One after nine years in the sport. He finished third in the World Championship behind the Ferraris in 2004, but has struggled to compete at the top end of the grid since.

He said his 2008 tribulations were difficult to bear, but that everything could come good in 2009 with former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn at the helm having overseen development on the new car.

"The last couple of years have been tough," he told Eurosport. "I couldn't even see a future for the team. I pushed hard to get Ross on board because we were lacking in technical understanding and leadership.

"There were areas within the team that were not very strong and he has positioned the talented people within Honda in other roles, not just brought in new people.

"It's really working: You can't see it on the circuit with the car, but at the factory the atmosphere is very positive.

"We haven't been working on this car since the fourth or fifth race - it makes me look bad, but I can put up with that if we build a good car next year."

Button said that the rule changes that come into force from next season will help Honda as they bid to close the gap on the top teams.

"There's a lot of regulation changes: we have the aerodynamics, adjustable front wings - which will be interesting - slick tyres and KERS," he said.

"The changes are good news for us. They mean we're not in a situation where we are three years behind everyone: (usually) you can't catch up in one year, it takes three or four - if you catch up at all.

"They are positive rule changes, which will help the racing. Whether we will be on the podium though or winning races we won't know until we see how the other teams have progressed.

"(But) we have no excuses next year, none of us. It's a completely new season and new regulations; then 2010 is the crunch year: if we are not winning by then, something has got to change."

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I think Jenson Buttons should be replace. Every year­ you hear excuses from him saying they will be strong­ and competitive the next year.

    From Noel, on Wed 12 Nov 11:14AM

  2. 58 That's because you're missing the whole­ point !

    From m.e.jenner, on Wed 12 Nov 11:11AM

  3. Jenson's on a load of dough at Honda...... i'd­ peddle a car round in F1 for that money, who cares­ about winning when you've mansions, cars, boats,­ women etc etc.

    From pfy1101, on Wed 12 Nov 11:03AM

  4. pauljgregory - no that's not quite how it went­ down. Jenson was hired by Williams, they then loaned­ him out to another team which was Benneton, which then­ became Renault a year later. Jenson did a couple of­ years with them then moved onto BAR. He did well in his­ 3rd season with them and then Frank asked him to come­ back to Williams, which he wanted too at the time. But­ there was problems with the contracts and it went to­ court. BAR then convinced Jenson to stay at BAR, which­ he decided to do. So he did mess both teams about a­ tad. But apparently was ill advised about his contract.­ He then had to buy Williams out of his existing­ contract. I think he made the right choice staying with­ BAR/Honda as there was more potential there than at­ Williams.

    From Mark W, on Wed 12 Nov 9:47AM

  5. Why havent they re-signed him? Cause they aint gunna­ :)

    From Hugh, on Wed 12 Nov 7:09AM

  6. Poor jenson button :) time to hang up the helmet :)

    From Hugh, on Wed 12 Nov 7:09AM

  7. Jenson boring!

    From D S, on Wed 12 Nov 6:32AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Maybe Button can get a ride at Force India next year.­ Then he'll have a car that has the same technology­ as Hamilton's. Isn't that what he wants?

    From arshad_iceman2, on Wed 12 Nov 3:57AM

  9. hotrijder7 - lol u said it

    From Matthew B, on Wed 12 Nov 1:08AM

  10. WORRIED WHY???????????????????
    HE WOULD HAVE BEATEN­ HAMILTON IN THE SAME CAR THEN WHY WORRY ABOUT SECOND­ CLASS GP2 STARSHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAH
    I WOULD­ BE WORRIED IF I WAS YOU

    From hotrijder7, on Wed 12 Nov 12:28AM

  11. sid, If you remember correctly, Williams farmed Jenson­ out to Bar and when Jenson showed that he was bonding­ well with the team and making progress with their car­ Frank Williams decided he wanted Jenson back! Jenson­ had put a lot of work into Bar and felt that he should­ reep the reward of his labour, and he bought himself­ out of his contract. How is that jumping ship? He was­ driving a Bar car he stayed with Bar!
    Had he been­ driving a Williams I doubt if he would have moved away­ from them, but he wasnt driving a Williams was he!

    From pauljgregory, on Tue 11 Nov 10:25PM

  12. Chatterbox !

    From m.e.jenner, on Tue 11 Nov 9:47PM

  13. .

    From Donald D, on Tue 11 Nov 9:30PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OK I ADMIT I CHEATED!!! SLOWED DOWN MORE THAN I­ SHOULD,,,BUT IT WAS ONLY CAUSE HAMMY HAD NO OTHER MATES­ ON THE CIRCUIT,,FELT SORRY FOR HIM,,THOUGH 18 SECS IN 1­ LAP DOES TAKE THE PISS A BIT..PLEASE FORGIVE ME..

    KIND­ REGARDS
    TEAM O GLOCK

    From , on Tue 11 Nov 9:09PM

  15. Just like in any other sport, the best players play on­ the best teams. It's Plain and simple. If Button­ anywhere near as good as he claims he is, a good team­ would've made the effort to sign him. As it turns­ out coincidentally, Button had his chance with McClaren­ and blew it.

    Funny, when Alonso, Senna and Schumacher­ were winning championships, there wasn't as much­ talk about how the car was helping him. I wonder why­ that could be?

    From Poison pill, on Tue 11 Nov 9:05PM

  16. Honda owe Jenson (and Rubens) for two seasons of being­ not-even-rans. Given the skips they have been forced­ to drive both have done a bloody good job just making­ it around the track. Plus, new cars with new rules,­ I'd want experienced guys pushing them too the­ limit. I know Lewis is an exception with his Mclaren,­ but most drivers take a season to settle in and if I­ were Honda I'd give it a season with the new regs­ before I started worrying about new drivers.

    From ginger_gitt, on Tue 11 Nov 6:37PM

  17. timecode5000 - totally agree with you; I think that­ Jenson's smooth style sometimes pays him back but­ other times can hurt him. He is a super talented driver­ and as quick as anybody out there on his day. But I­ just have this feeling hasn't quite got the...ahem­ "X Factor"? :)

    From Mark W, on Tue 11 Nov 6:12PM

  18. Yes I forgot m.e. he had the band din't he, not as­ good as mine btw. Yeah a bit of lunacy is good at­ times, couldn't imagine Schummy having a band. But­ if he did it would be an umpah band.

    From Mrs Valerie Quigly, on Tue 11 Nov 6:07PM

  19. My re-incarnaion! From Bilko to JayCee as easy as­ that!

    From Sgt. Bilko, on Tue 11 Nov 6:02PM

  20. Button's a smooth driver, but great drivers tend be­ very aggressive and unorthadox with their styles such­ as schumacher, alonso, hamilton and even senna

    I think­ Honda should stick with Button but i can understand if­ they got some new blood. Though for Button this night­ be a good thing, i think he's getting fed up of­ being at the tail end of a race. Though next season I­ think they will be a mid field team like Torro Rosso­ was last year, but I said that last year and they were­ awful :p

    From Matthew B, on Tue 11 Nov 6:02PM
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