Helmet Problem Fails to Stop Button

Jenson Button admitted he was concerned during the latter stages of the German Grand Prix after a problem with his helmet restricted his breathing, but claimed his second place finish was never in danger.

BAR-Honda driver Button was forced to drive one handed while holding onto his helmet in order to get air into it after the strap became loose following his final pitstop.

The Englishman still managed to overtake Renault's Fernando Alonso as the pair battled for second place as he equalled his best result in Formula One, but revealed he had been concerned by his breathing problems.

"The team initially thought it was a visor but it wasn't," Button said who added that he was "not very close" to pitting when asked how serious the problem was.

"It was the strap under the helmet was a little bit loose and the problem is then that when the helmet is loose it lifts up slightly and it was really catching on my throat and it made it really very difficult to breathe.

"I had to hold it on every straight to keep it down so that I could get some air in. I couldn't breathe very well and it was just more worrying than anything else. I was just slightly pulling it down to get some air in."

Button believes that without the 10-grid position demotion he incurred as a result of his engine change after Friday practice he could have scored his first Grand Prix victory after he ended only 8.3 seconds behind Michael Schumacher.

"Probably for me it was the best race of my career," he said. "In one way it is a bit disappointing because if we had started where we qualified we would have had a very good chance of challenging Michael, I think. It is hard to come to terms with that really, but I am sure there are going to be a lot more chances this year."