Honda not on the Button
#1
Honda not on the Button
British driver Jenson Button says he is disappointed with his 2007 Honda car and has warned fans not to expect too much from his team at this weekend's Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
Button, who has just one win from GP starts in seven years, expects his car to be well off the pace during the early races this season as the team struggle with aerodynamic issues.
Honda finished fourth in the constructors' championship last season while Button broke through for his maiden grand prix win in Hungary.
But the driver said Honda had not been able to build on last year's progress during the off-season.
"Here I can't see us qualifying in the top 10," Button told reporters on Thursday.
"I think if we have a good race - because we are very reliable and some of the teams aren't - I can see us finishing in the top 10.
"We're not going to get on the podium, we're not going to win the race."
Button said Honda would still be in test mode in Sunday's Melbourne race.
"This is an important race but it's not about the end result," he said.
"We've got to look at the areas where we're lacking and the areas where we need to work on compared to the top teams.
"It's more of a big test session for us, to learn why we're so far off.
"It's not a nice way to start a season. Arriving with a car that isn't challenging for victory hurts."
Button said he hoped there would be improvements in the Honda cars as updates become available.
"We're with a very strong team here, and I believe in the engineers and I believe in the aerodynamicist. It's just that we've gone in the wrong direction with the car this year, which is disappointing," he said.
"There are a few issues with the aerodynamics which we need to solve and when we solve them we will have a much better car."
Button, who has just one win from GP starts in seven years, expects his car to be well off the pace during the early races this season as the team struggle with aerodynamic issues.
Honda finished fourth in the constructors' championship last season while Button broke through for his maiden grand prix win in Hungary.
But the driver said Honda had not been able to build on last year's progress during the off-season.
"Here I can't see us qualifying in the top 10," Button told reporters on Thursday.
"I think if we have a good race - because we are very reliable and some of the teams aren't - I can see us finishing in the top 10.
"We're not going to get on the podium, we're not going to win the race."
Button said Honda would still be in test mode in Sunday's Melbourne race.
"This is an important race but it's not about the end result," he said.
"We've got to look at the areas where we're lacking and the areas where we need to work on compared to the top teams.
"It's more of a big test session for us, to learn why we're so far off.
"It's not a nice way to start a season. Arriving with a car that isn't challenging for victory hurts."
Button said he hoped there would be improvements in the Honda cars as updates become available.
"We're with a very strong team here, and I believe in the engineers and I believe in the aerodynamicist. It's just that we've gone in the wrong direction with the car this year, which is disappointing," he said.
"There are a few issues with the aerodynamics which we need to solve and when we solve them we will have a much better car."
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