McLaren’s Jenson Button is confident that he can mount a challenge for a second world title this season, despite a disappointing Malaysian Grand Prix.
Button, 5/2 with bookmaker to be the 2012 world champion, finished out of the points at Sepang despite starting on the front row, but he believes that little damage was done to his title chances.
He said: “I’m still only 10 points off the lead and that’s Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari. That’s not the worry.
“I’m also only five points behind Lewis (Hamilton), who is the guy in a competitive car, so it’s still not bad considering the day I had.
“Lewis is definitely my main rival and you have to say the Red Bulls as well.”
Next up for Button and Co is the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday 15th April, with McLaren winning three of the last four races in Shanghai – Hamilton triumphing in 2008 and 2011, with Button taking the chequered flag in 2010.