Button: BAR Have Turned a Corner

Button, who set an unofficial Barcelona circuit lap record in testing last week while trying out new aerodynamic developments, said he was looking forward to next week's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.

"There's no way we're going to turn up and not be quicker," Button told Autosport magazine. "It definitely feels like we have turned a corner.

"It's exciting to come back to Europe from where we started and think we've made a good improvement."

Button took the first pole position of his career for the Honda-powered team at Imola last year and finished second, still his best race weekend performance.

"I think this was the best test we've done in my time at BAR," he said of Barcelona.

"We've found more downforce and stability. The car felt a lot more predictable in high-speed corners. It actually felt pretty much like it did last year and it gives you a lot more confidence."

However teammate Takuma Sato, testing at Le Castellet in the south of France this week, was more cautious.

"We have collated a lot of data and it has definitely improved the driveability of the car," he told Autosport-Atlas.

"In terms of downforce it is a bit better but not much, as everyone else seems to have got better with their new packages. So we don't expect to be making an enormous jump, but we are definitely making a step forward."