Button rules out race wins in 2008

Jenson Button does not expect a sudden increase in performance at Honda Racing, despite the arrival of Ross Brawn as team principal.

Brawn said he was impressed by what he found at Honda Racing since his arrival last week. Button thinks it would take until 2009 for the Japanese manufacturer to fully realize its potential and subsequently start winning races.

« I think we will make a big step forward in 2008 compared to 2007, without it being really difficult, » Button said in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.

« But we are not going to win races yet, and I don’t want people to think that will be the case. That is why I want to clarify things. »

« The important thing is to start with a good car and make improvements at every race to get closer to Ferrari and McLaren. Ross will bring a lot in achieving this goal. If we have a competitive car by the end of next season, I will be very happy with the way 2008 has turned out, » he stated.

« But I think that for the moment we must focus and do the hard work that will be profitable in the future. »

Button stated that the arrival of Brawn meant that Honda no longer had any excuse not to become more and more competitive.

« When I learned that Ross was going to become an integral part of the team, I was happier than I had ever been in this sport. It’s one of the best things that could happen to the team, » he said.

« As Michael Schumacher said about Ross, he is the super brain of F1. If he can’t help us win a championship, then we don’t deserve to be here. Last season was very frustrating, » revealed the Brit.

« But, towards the end of the year, we asked ourselves the right questions in terms of improving the car, but also in terms of personnel. »

« We were lacking aerodynamic technicians, but now we have found them. I think we can achieve good results in the future and we will all work very hard to reach this goal, » he concluded.