BUTTON: DREAM IS STILL ALIVE
MCLAREN driver Jenson Button insists he can resurrect his stalled bid to defend the world championship ahead of the Korean Grand Prix.
Button, 30, is currently fifth in the drivers’ standings, 31 points behind leader Mark Webber, but the Englishman believes a strong finish in this weekend’s race could spark a dramatic climax to the season.
Button said: “Every time we go to a race it seems this is the critical race. It is obviously a lot more difficult for us to win the world championship this year but we have seen in past seasons that anything is possible. We have all had failures this year, so it is definitely still possible.
“Obviously it’s most difficult for me as I am 31 points behind. But there is always a possibility. If you look at the last two races the Ferraris and Red Bulls sort of had the legs on us a little bit but these next three hopefully we will be a bit closer. That will make an exciting fight for the end of the season.”
Button’s McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton is just three points ahead of him in the championship table, but shares his hope of overhauling Webber’s imposing lead with just three races remaining.
Hamilton said: “I think it’s possible, anything’s possible, and I think you can tell McLaren and the Ferraris are pushing very hard because I don’t think the gap is that big.”
Sunday’s race will be the first held at the new 3.5 mile Yeongam circuit. Only officially approved by the FIA last week, building work is still to be finished and teams are unsure about how the recently laid asphalt track will behave over the weekend.