Newly-engaged Jenson second only to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes in the timesheets for Day Three of the first Bahrain test
Sunday 23 February 2014 09:06, UK
An optimistic Jenson Button believes McLaren are on course to be fully prepared for the first grand prix of the season in Australia - but admits they currently can't match Mercedes' levels of rear downforce.
Indeed, after enduring their worst season for 30 years last year when the team failed to finish on the podium all year, Button said morale was high again at Woking and the team had their "buzz back". "We know we're not the quickest right now; we know we're not slow either and the great thing is we can put a lot of laps," he said in a separate interview with written media. "And it's not coming in to the pits, doing a lot to the car and going back. We can go out and do a race distance. "That is promising and I think that shows how tough last year was for us, and the winter. The guys have done a fantastic job and I remember coming back to the factory after the first test and speaking to them and saying 'guys, I know I'm supposed to stand here and say this is just the start, you've got to work even harder' but I first wanted to say how grateful I was. They've done such a good job of developing this car and obviously now we've got a lot of confidence to move forward. "It's those guys who have made it go round and round. The night shift, the day shift, the guys back at the factory. The guys are so pumped for this year after such a bad year last year. These guys don't just have a job with McLaren, they're here to race and they'd do anything to win grands prix. It's great to see the buzz is back in McLaren." Fastest laps of Bahrain Test One