Graphic: full story of the race in Istanbul
Jenson Button will arrive at Silverstone next week for the last British Grand Prix to be staged at the Northamptonshire circuit feeling on top of the motor racing world and ready to enjoy every minute of his home race.
In past years, Button admits, he has been uncomfortable with the amount of support he has received there given the poor performances that he has often turned in at the wheel of uncompetitive cars. This time, with a handsome lead in the championship and with a supreme racing machine to drive, he wants to reward those who have stood and cheered in the difficult times.
After a performance in the Turkish Grand Prix that Sebastian Vettel, the Red Bull driver, described as from a “different planet”, Button said how much he was looking forward to the British race. “In previous years when the car has been difficult to drive and we haven’t had the best results, in a way it’s been a little bit embarrassing because there is so much support, but you can’t give anything back,” he said. “So leading the championship is giving people something to sink their teeth into and really enjoy.”
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Despite his 26-point lead over Rubens Barrichello, his Brawn GP team-mate, and a 32-point advantage over Vettel, Button vowed that he will not be taking his foot off the gas. “My lead is out of this world but I’m not going to lift off,” he said. “I want to do the best that I can at every race I go to and I’m still going to make every move that I possibly can to win every race. But I also know that it’s not going to be easy. I will have a bad race this year, I will get beaten.”
Vettel who started on pole only to endure a disappointing race after running wide on lap one, said that Button and Brawn were simply too good. “When I saw him flying away, the first thing I thought was ‘S***’, because we wanted to win today and we were not good enough - we were just not quick enough,” the 21-year-old German driver said.