Button: Red Bull giving Brawn cause for concern

Tuesday 14th July 2009

Jenson Button is praying his Brawn GP car will be quick in Hungary next week, admitting "a problem" is emerging in the shape of the Red Bull team.

Button is now anxiously looking over his shoulder after Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel dominated for the second grand prix in succession at the Nurburgring on Sunday.

The 29-year-old only managed fifth for Brawn behind the third Red Bull one-two finish of the season, on this occasion led by Australian Webber for his first victory in Formula One in 130 starts.

After starting the year with six wins from the opening seven races, Button has now taken just seven points from the last two which has seen his lead cut to 21 to Vettel and 22.5 to Webber.

The cool conditions at Silverstone and the Nurburgring have worked against Button, which is why he is expecting a return to the front in the heat of Budapest, otherwise he knows he is in trouble.

"Of course I'm worried," admitted Button. "Wouldn't you be? I've had a sixth and a fifth in the last two races.

"I expected more in Germany, I expected to be on the podium, but the race just didn't go well, so you have to worry.

"But I don't think 'Oh damn, we're going to lose the Championship'. It's 'Come on, let's make the difference'.

"Now I am looking forward to the next couple of races which could help us, particularly Hungary where we've some new aero parts and it's a hot circuit.

"I think our car will be strong there, although we don't know how strong. We'll have to wait and see.

"But we've got to kick some a*** in Hungary, and that's what we're going to try and do.

"Let's pray we are quick there because if we are not we've got a problem."

His view was endorsed by team boss Ross Brawn, who readily admits his cars are now "not quick enough".

Brawn said: "We have to respond, because if we don't then we'll throw the Championship away."

Webber and Vettel have become the men to beat, with the fact they are taking points off one another a small crumb of comfort for Button.

"With Mark winning, it puts another person in the mix doesn't it?" added Button.

"Sebastian, Mark, Rubens (Barrichello), they're all closing in on me, so it's getting competitive and it's going to be a lot of fun.

"The good thing is both Red Bull drivers are competitive. Vettel is strong and Mark's strong, and in a way it's a good thing.

"I've a 21-point lead, but I know that's not enough to finish behind the Red Bulls in every race.

"We could shout at the team about improving things, but they know what they've got to do.

"We've got to stay calm, put the improvements on the car and get every bit we can out of it.

"With the lead I've got, it's not that bad, but if we continue the way we have we are not going to keep it."

Button's first career win in F1 was in Hungary three years ago when he came from 14th on the grid to triumph on a rare rainy day in Budapest.

Such weather would be far from ideal for Button in a fortnight's time.

He said: "I just hope it's not like that again.

"We'll be stronger there I'm sure, and I'm excited to get these last two races out of the way. I just wish we had got a few more points out of them.

"The Red Bull is working well at the moment, and I am sure it will still work well in Hungary, but our car will be quicker and a lot closer."

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