Button baffled by lack of Bahrain testers

Only Ferrari, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Button's Honda Racing team have decided to accept an invitation from the Bahrain circuit to test at the venue that will host the season opening Grand Prix, in four weeks' time.

And with the run likely to give those present a crucial advantage in terms of understanding how their cars and tyres operate in warmer temperatures, Button has said he cannot understand why other outfits have opted to remain in Europe.

"It is going to be an important test and I don't get why not many teams are going," he told autosport.com. "But with Ferrari there, they will at least definitely be a good reference point for us."

Button is upbeat about the progress made with his new RA106 and claims that the good levels of reliability the team are experiencing is paying dividends in helping them find more pace from the car.

"We have done so much mileage and it makes such a difference," he added. "We have been so reliable and that is the biggest part of it - and we are on the pace too.

"I am happy with the consistency too and, although I know Renault are good and probably Ferrari, the thing we can at least do now is keep pounding around.

"We just have to work on 100 percent reliability. Clearly we have to understand a bit more about the car too, but it is looking good. We have to apply this pace in the season, though."