Button criticises race officials

What made the situation worse was that the time Button lost behind Trulli may have cost him track position to the Italian's team-mate Fernando Alonso, who subsequently remained ahead of Button after the final round of pitstops.

"It was very disappointing," said Button. "The blue flags here have been atrocious, but when Fernando pitted, I found myself behind another Renault, who I was lapping, which was Jarno.

"There were no blue flags for two laps, so it was a job well done by Renault, if it was on purpose. He held me up just enough so that Fernando was in front of me after the stops. That way round it was very exciting, because I was able to overtake him on the circuit..."

Button tried to pass Alonso during the previous stint without success and was concerned that a problem with a loose helmet strap, which made it difficult to breath at high speed, might hinder his chances of taking second place.

"I didn't think I was going to be able to get past Fernando. It slowed me up because I wasn't concentrating so much, but I was able to get past him.

"We really enjoyed it. I'm sure I enjoyed it more than him, because I overtook him! The first battle was really exciting, and while I was battling I had the problem with the helmet, so I backed off. When you're under that much pressure, and your heartbeat is pumping, it makes it difficult, it makes you very anxious! I had a lot of arm ache after the race, but it was all worth it."

Button was nevertheless overjoyed to have returned to best-of-the-rest status behind Ferrari and now believes that it is possible his team could take it a stage further at Hungary on August 15.

"We expected to be quick here," he said, "but we also expected to be quick at Silverstone, and we weren't really. We've got to be positive. We have some new parts to try in Hungary, and there's no reason why we can't challenge for a win. I think Ferrari - like around this circuit - will suffer slightly because I think the Michelins are a better tyre there."

Check out Cooper Straight for the insight into Jenson Button's storming