Question: Jenson, after several seasons of struggle, now - almost out of the blue it seems - you’re a championship contender. Has your mind been able to keep up with this rapid development?
Jenson Button: Well, the last couple of years have been quite difficult, but Formula One is all about being part of a team and if the team as a whole is not doing well you’re not going to be competitive. Now it is fantastic to be with a team that is very competitive and I am able to do a good job - and for sure it is overwhelming to lead the championship by six points. That is where I should be, and I am very happy. This was always my belief that I belong there, because if you lose that belief in yourself you won’t be in Formula One any more.
Question: In nine years you won one Grand Prix - and then you won two within the space of a week, followed by a third place in China. Will the podium be your new home?
Click Here For More Formula 1 Photos
Jenson Button: Hopefully! In Formula One the way is you want to win every race - although there is always the consistency question. In 2004 I had 11 podiums but I didn’t get anywhere near to winning the championship. This year my belief is that we can do much better than that and be on the top spot more often.
Question: According to Renault boss Flavio Briatore, the wrong guy in the wrong car is leading the championship. What’s your stance on that?
Jenson Button: I think it is the wrong guy making an opinion. Flavio is a very outspoken man and if he means that us leading the championship is wrong for the sport then his comments might be wrong for the sport. He doesn’t understand the way Formula One is in the way of how a car performs and how a driver performs, because I think that I am the right man to lead the championship and us as a team being competitive has made Formula One a bit more exciting. Seeing new drivers at the front, on the podium and winning races is good for the sport. The feedback that I have had from people underlines that. Hopefully it continues a long way because I have worked my ass off for this and nobody can take that away from me.
Question: Are you surprised that the usual frontrunners are experiencing such a slump?
Jenson Button: Yes, for sure I’m surprised that Ferrari so far hasn’t scored any points, but we saw McLaren doing a very good job in Shanghai with both drivers, so they have made quite an improvement. No doubt the top teams of last year will improve - the question is when. My guess is that when we get back to Europe we will see McLaren much stronger - but whether it’s enough for the front I don’t know. At the moment we’re looking more at the Red Bulls and the Toyotas.
