Fry pays tribute to Button

Button finished eighth at Magny-Cours to open his and his team's points account for the season after a dismal start to the year.

Honda's most recent race victory came last August when Button stood on top of the podium for the first time in Hungary.

The Briton scored more points than any driver from Budapest to the end of the 2006 season, finishing third in the final race in Brazil.

Honda have suffered a dramatic falling off this year, however, with Sunday's eighth place at Magny-Cours earning Button his first appearance in the top 10 in eight races.

Fry paid tribute to the 27-year-old Briton, whose efforts have been eclipsed by the astonishing achievements of 22-year-old rookie compatriot and championship leader Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.

"My admiration for Jenson goes up day by day, month by month," Fry told Reuters. "It's relatively easy to be optimistic when you've got a good car and you're doing well but Jenson really has matured in his professionalism and his fighting spirit.

"He's tried every bit as hard for 12th place on the grid as he does for second or third," he added.

"In all the years I've known Jenson, every year he is better than the year before. I really don't see any reason why, if we give him the equipment, he can't be competing with Lewis."