JENSON BUTTON BELIEVES McLaren can still have Formula One success this year despite not finishing higher than eighth in the past two races.
Button and his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton have struggled at the past two F1 Grands Prix in Spain and the United Kingdom.
McLaren are fourth in the constructors’ championship on 142 points, 74 behind Red Bull, while Hamilton sits in the same position in the drivers’ championship with Button in eighth.
However Button remains confident his team can make an impact in the 2012 F1 season.
“Performance wise, I still think it’s difficult to accurately predict where we stand in the competitive order,” Button said.
“Valencia and Silverstone were certainly difficult races for us, but I don’t think they were truly representative of our pace.
“This year, you really need a problem-free build-up to the race if you’re going to maximise the car’s potential and that’s exactly what we’ll be hoping for in Germany next weekend.”
Heading into back-to-back GPs in Germany and Hungary, Button is looking forward to a return to the Hockenheimring, where he claimed successive podium finishes in 2004-05.
“I’ve always enjoyed Hockenheim,” Button said.
“I raced here when it blasted through the forests, a long time ago and I had a great race here in 2004, finishing second, despite starting back in 13th after a penalty for an engine failure in practice.
“It’s a circuit where you can attack.
“It’s good for racing and the newer layout is better for the spectators too.”
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh has claimed McLaren will not wait until after the mid-season break, which starts at the conclusion of the Hungarian GP, to begin reeling in the leading teams.
“There is a huge resolve within the operation to ensure that our aggressive development strategy is upheld across (June, July and August),” Whitmarsh said.
“We are determined to narrow the gap to the championship leaders before the start of the summer break.”
