Button: Brawn is back to its best

With Brawn viewing this weekend as a key indicator of the balance of power between itself and Red Bull Racing, Button says he is feeling positive about the early indications that the disappointments of Silverstone and Germany can be forgotten.

"The last two races it's been pretty much a case of do as well as we can, bring it home and score some points, said Button. "I haven't had the best races. We've been quite quick at times, but as soon as you start falling back in the pack, it gets complicated and we haven't had the best races.

"Maybe we've lucked in at other races, but we haven't at the last two. The luck went the other way. But coming here I'm pretty positive, we've made an improvement with the car, the temperature helps us, and the tyres we have are good.

"Our pace is good, but I don't know how good. There's a lot of work we still need to do, we won't know until qualifying. I'm happy to be here, and in a position to drive this car. It's a good car to drive here. I don't know if it's the same as Turkey, but it's nice, and I haven't felt that for the last two races."

Although Button was only 13th fastest on the opening practice day for the Hungarian Grand Prix, he feels positive about his team's chances on what is an important weekend for the team, despite not wishing to make any firm predictions about how good things will be.

"I haven't got a clue," said Button about his predictions for qualifying. "All I know is the car feels good, better than the last few races, which is nice.

"There's still some work we need to do, to work with the tyres for consistency, especially the harder tyre, but I'm happy with the way things are going.

"There's still some work we need to do to be really competitive. But our pace is good, and the direction we are taking with the car is the correct one, and I'm happy with the balance. I don't know where we stand after Friday. I was 13th, but we're quicker than that."

Button's prayers for warm weather in Hungary were answered on the opening day, but Saturday's qualifying looks set to take place amid much cooler conditions.

And with the tight layout of the Hungaroring making qualifying vital for a good race result, Button will have to hope that the temperature is warm enough to allow his car to get its tyres into the right operating window.

"Qualifying is important, and the left-hand side of the circuit is quicker than the right-hand side," he said. "You can't judge where you are going to start; it's difficult to know unless you are going for pole position.

"Also the KERS are going to be an issue here, the Ferraris and the McLarens look quick, so it's going to be a bit of a fight at the front, which is good."