Bullish Button aims for home glory

Jenson Button hopes to give BAR-Honda’s hard-working staff something to cheer this weekend at Silverstone after a trying start to the season.

Formula One staff are expected to work especially hard to find vital fractions of a second for their drivers, but BAR’s Brackley workforce enjoyed precious little payback in the first nine races of the season.

The team struggled in the first three races before their controversial disqualification in Imola – which brought a two-race ban and severely handicapped development.

Button’s pole position at Canada brought some relief, but when BAR were part of the seven-team pull-out at Indianapolis the team were condemned to heading to round 10 in France last weekend without a point to show for their efforts.

Button finally chalked up five points with his fourth place and now he hopes to cheer up his team with a much-needed home boost.

He said: “Most importantly, this is a weekend when the whole team get to experience the cars at a race weekend and share in our achievements, so I am very excited about the race and hope that we will be able to put on a great show for everyone.

“My home grand prix at Silverstone is always very special to me as I am extremely patriotic and it feels just like coming home.

“Last year we had a very good experience at the British Grand Prix, as the team and myself had a huge number of the fans, which was a great feeling.

“After the excitement of Magny Cours, where we had a good result, it feels great to be back in Britain to prepare for our home race.”

Button is a keen supporter of Silverstone, claiming the Northamptonshire circuit is one of the few on the calendar to truly show off the potential of a Formula One car.

He added: “It’s a great circuit, it’s such a flowing circuit, it’s a proper racers’ circuit, especially through Maggotts and Becketts.

“[With] the change of direction in a Formula One car through there, you realise how special these cars are. It’s one of the only places in Formula One you really notice it because you are changing direction at such high speed.

“But there’s also so many other special places on the circuit.”