Button: McLaren set to dictate race pace
| By Pablo Elizalde |
Friday, June 3rd 2011, 10:57 GMT |
 Jenson Button believes his McLaren team can start to "dictate race pace" if it can improve its qualifying speed in the upcoming races.
Button finished in third position in the Monaco Grand Prix, although he looked like the favourite to win the race at same stages of the event.
The Briton is confident that if McLaren can raise its game in qualifying, it can start to win races from the front.
"There's a real momentum within our team at the moment - I think we had a race car good enough to win in both Spain and Monaco; with a little improvement to our qualifying, I think we can start to dictate race pace, which was something we were briefly able to show at both of the last two races," said Button in a team preview.
"I'm still very pleased with my performance in Monte Carlo. It wasn't a win, but it was nice to lead the race and to be able to pull away comfortably.
"Even if the result didn't match it, that sort of thing is always nice to keep at the back of your mind."
Button is also upbeat about his chances for the Canadian Grand Prix, where he reckons McLaren will have the speed to win.
"I've never won in north America and I think we have the pace, the development and the momentum to have a good shot at changing that next weekend. I'm really looking forward to it."
Team-mate Lewis Hamilton is also confident about the team's prospects for Montreal.
"Our car should be well suited to this track; we have a great engine, the best KERS Hybrid system in the sport and excellent traction out of slow corners," he said.
"All in all, it's set to be another good weekend for us – I'll be looking for a strong result on Sunday."
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