Brazil: Button on 2006, Rubens, and the future

By Phil Huff
October 22 2006

With a Brazilian race winner in Brazil, and the 2006 world champion alongside him, Honda Racing F1's Jenson Button didn't get to say much in the podium press conference. Here's every word, touching on the season, Rubens, and how good the future looks...

Jenson, congratulations, a great drive from fourteenth on the grid after an electronic problem yesterday, to your third podium of the year.

For these two [Massa and Alonso] it's a very very special day, Felipe winning the Grand Prix in his home country and then Fernando clinching the World Championship, so I've got to say a massive well done to both of them. But even for me, coming from fourteenth to third after yesterday's problems, is a great result and a perfect way to end the year, so it's been a fantastic day, probably one of the most enjoyable races I've had, fighting my way through the field. It wasn't just done on pit stops or from people stopping.

I guess we have to ask the question where you might have finished had you not had that problem yesterday?

Yeah, we couldn't have challenged Felipe, they were very very fast, but second was definitely possible. You could see by the pace. Obviously Fernando was controlling the pace and I couldn't do anything about that. They were very quick in a straight line but I've got to say a big well done to all the boys. After yesterday's problem, they've kept strong and we've come away with another podium. It's a good result considering how bad it looked before.

Good to see you up here as well; what made the difference today, do you feel?

First of all, I would like to say well done to Felipe for winning his home Grand Prix – it must be an amazing feeling – and also to Fernando for winning the World Championship a second year running. They both thoroughly deserve their results today.

Yeah, it was a good day. After yesterday's problems, it's nice to be on the podium, starting fourteenth and coming through the field. It was such an exciting race for me, especially the first 20 or 30 laps, fighting my way through, but I just couldn't get anywhere near Fernando on the straight. I would get close on the exit, the car was very good on traction but I just couldn't get close enough on the straight, he would slightly pull away, which is disappointing, but it's still nice to get third after such an enjoyable race. This is great for our team, going into the winter. We are one of the only teams who don't have drivers moving elsewhere and new drivers coming in. We can just concentrate on next season and this is a great way to finish 2006.

What was the first lap like?

Mayhem, yeah, mayhem. It was great. It was a lot of fun. It is always like that in the middle of the pack but especially being the last race. You're giving it your all and you see what happens and I came out on top and yeah, a fantastic day.

What are your immediate plans before you go testing again?

I am going to the factories both in England and then I am in Monaco for a little while and then do my usual thing in Lanzarote for a couple of weeks - and it is not fun, trust me!

You are the driver with most points scored from Hungary on. Do you believe that with a few extra races you could be challenging to win as well – if we had a few races left?

That's the problem. There are a lot of ifs… But we have 18 races. Over the last nine races, seven races, I've scored more points than anyone, but that is only seven races - and you have got to complete the season. This has been a very up and down season for us and we finally sorted out the car for Hockenheim and since then we have had very good results and our worst result has been fifth. So, yes, it is pretty good and it bodes well for next season, but we do need the whole season. Personally, I think that as a team we are very strong. We are strong enough to challenge for a championship and we just have to make sure we build a car that is strong enough as well.

What about ending the season with more points than Rubens, and what about this year with him?

Having Rubens in the team has been great for all of us, because he comes from a team that has won the World Championship many times and also working alongside Michael; he's gained a lot of experience there so he's been very good for the team. He's come with some good ideas, he understands where we are weak and also where we are strong. So yeah, he's been very good for the team. He's also been competitive and he's pushed me very hard, especially in qualifying, so we are looking forward to a good winter. We're both racing for the team next season, so it's going to be good, because we can work together and hopefully move forward the amount that we need to be challenging Renault, Ferrari and McLaren.