Button sure Honda will make progress

The new car has failed to set times that are a threat to the front-runners during its initial tests, as the team pin their hopes on the machine erasing the memories of a disastrous 2007 campaign.

But despite that lacklustre start, Button believes the team know what they need to do to step up their game - and he thinks the RA108 is heading in the right direction.

"The RA108 is completely new which means we are starting from zero in terms of developing the set-up," he told the official Formula One website. "We are also working on driveability as we adapt to the new ECU.

"These challenges were reflected in our speed at our debut test in Barcelona, especially on single fast laps, but our long-run consistency improved. We have a good basic car with new opportunities for aerodynamics and other areas and a clear plan for addressing any issues in the coming tests."

He added: "We have a lot of work to do in order to achieve our targets and obviously things are not going to happen overnight, however we have some very good people at the team and I have every confidence that we will progress throughout the year."

Button has drawn short, however, of making firm predictions about what Honda can achieve this year.

"We still have some important tests ahead so at this moment any answer would be a pure guess," he said when asked if a win was on the cards for this year.

"But I am very confident that the development is moving in the right direction and that results are lurking around the corner."