Button defends Honda's pre-season form

After going into the season confident that they would be able to regularly challenge for victories, a lack of race pace from the RA106 has left Button unable to convert his strong qualifying showings into race results.

He has scored just one podium finish this year despite starting in the top three at every race.

But speaking to reporters at the Nurburgring on Thursday, Button said that his team were right to be so optimistic pre-season and were not just trying to grab the headlines.

"We were not talking it up," he said. "Over the winter we thought we had a very good chance of challenging for wins at every single race we went to. We were very truthful, we didn't lie and talk it down and then suddenly have great results like other teams might have done.

"We were very truthful and we thought we were that quick. We haven't been quick enough to challenge the Renaults and that is not an issue which will change overnight I don't think."

Button visited Honda's Brackley factory on the day after the team's disappointing San Marino Grand Prix outing for a 'motivational talk' and claims he is encouraged by the atmosphere at the outfit as they bid to grab their maiden win in Formula One.

"I do it quite often, every Monday the team chat about what went on at the weekend but not always the drivers," he said. "It was useful because it was to put across some negative points and also some very positive points.

"The team completely understand that we had a tough weekend and made mistakes but the good thing is we can sit down and talk about the issues we have, good and bad.

"They were definitely things that we have solved for this race, they were not massive issues at all. It was nothing that couldn't be solved the next day."