Motor Sport:Jenson Button believes Red Bull will be a worried team heading into Formula One's summer break. McLaren have won three of the last five grands prix, with Button book-ending those with victories in Canada and yesterday in Hungary.
After starting the season with five wins in the opening six races from Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull have taken the flag just once in the last five, with their crown of superiority having slipped.
Vettel may have extended his lead in the championship by finishing second at the Hungaroring, but there is now no doubt McLaren have eaten away into the on-track advantage he and Red Bull previously enjoyed.
With McLaren shutting down their Technology Centre for the requisite two weeks from last night, it is clear who heads away on holiday by far the happier.
“It’s amazing going into the summer break. As a team we should all be very proud of what we’ve achieved in the last five races, apart from the reliability issues,” Button said. “The pace has been there, the upgrades have worked, and we’ve really taken the fight to Red Bull after everyone thought they would be untouchable.
“We’re now up there with them in qualifying, and in a race we can have them with strategy, the right calls and by having a good car. They should be worried. In really taking the fight to Red Bull, the team should be proud of what they’ve achieved in the last few races.
“The win is perfect for them going into the summer break, but they won’t be having a lot of rest. They’ll have the two weeks and then they’ll be straight back on it, building the car for Spa where hopefully we can get another win.”
A Kers failure in Valencia, a wheel falling off at Silverstone and a hydraulics problem at the Nurburgring has, as Button concedes, “really hurt” his championship. With 200 points up for grabs from the remaining eight races that begin at Spa in Belgium at the end of this month, and with Button 100 points adrift, his chances of overhauling Vettel are remote.
But with a smile on his face, and ever the fighter, Button added: “You never know, if he has a crash or something and he loses 25 points, then the gap could be 75. So definitely I’m still in this, and if our pace is as it is now, then it’s going to be full on until the end of the season.”
With a planned special upgrade in the pipeline for Spa, Button has reason to further enjoy his holiday in Hawaii, as well as a close friend’s wedding at which he will be one of three best men.
“It’s been great to see the performance increase, and I know we’re not going to give up despite the two weeks off,” said Button. “For Spa we’ve a new package which is going to be interesting, one which should work well for us around there, so we will definitely be looking and aiming for another victory.
“Before then I’m looking forward to my holiday. With the win, it is the best way to go into it. I couldn’t have wished for anything more. And I’ve a pretty good best man’s speech planned as well.”