Button keeping a lid on expectations

Button finished the 2006 season strongly, being the highest points-scorer since taking his maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix until the season-ending race in Brazil.

His momentum and Honda's strong form in the latter part of the year has led to increased expectations ahead of the new season.

And although Button admits he is optimistic of increasing his wins tally, the Briton is keeping his feet on the ground before the cars begin competing in less than two months' time.

"Personally I want to win many races, that's always a driver's aim," Button told reporters during Honda's 'Technical Insight' event in Barcelona, where the team are running their new car for the first time.

"But first we have to see if it's reality when we arrive in Melbourne.

"Before then, we are just getting our heads down and working as hard as we can to hopefully make a winning car in the future."

Button reiterated that consistency will be key in Honda's challenge during 2007, after the Japanese squad had an up-and-down season last year.

"If you are going to be in front challenging all the time throughout the season, and are competitive from the first race to the last, there's a possibility of challenging for the championship, of course," he added.

Button returned to Formula One action yesterday, three months after he was injured while karting, to test last year's car.

He made his debut at the wheel of the new RA107 this morning at Barcelona, a day after teammate Rubens Barrichello completed 40 laps with the new machine.

The Brazilian said he didn't want to make any predictions for the season, but he admitted he was feeling positive after his first run with the new car.

"I feel very positive. I don't want to predict too much, we have to keep our feet on the ground, but my aim is to win, to do well," Barrichello said. "So it's going to be a special year, but it's going to be a lot of work."