Belgium and Italian Grand Prix wins critical for title bid: Button

ARDENNES - Reigning Formula One champion Jenson Button believes that he and McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton must perform well in Belgium this weekend, and again in Italy in a fortnight’s time, if they want to win the title this year.

“We know these next two races are important for us. They will suit us for one reason or another,” The Telegraph quoted Button, as saying.

“Our pace will be a lot closer and we need to make that count before we get back to high-downforce tracks, but I’m very happy that these next two races have come at this point in the season,” he added.

The 30-year-old also insisted that it was imperative that the team finishes every race from here on to tackle the Red Bull challenge.

“They have made a few mistakes this season for whatever reason, but you can’t expect that to continue over the next seven races. We can’t sit back and wait,” Button said.

“I have to finish every race, as consistency is important, but there is no point being consistently sixth. We have to be fighting with the Red Bulls, otherwise there is no chance,” he added.

With seven Grand Prixs remaining and 25 points for a win, Red Bull’s Mark Webber leads the drivers’ standings with 161 points, followed by Hamilton on 157, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel on 151, Button on 147 and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso on 141. (ANI)