Jenson Button accepts that his chances of winning the Formula One world title will be “almost impossible” if McLaren cannot beat Red Bull at the next round in Korea.
The reigning champion could only manage fourth place in the Japanese Grand Prix last time out and is now 41 points behind Mark Webber, who holds top spot in the stadings.
McLaren had hoped a series of revisions and upgrades would give them a boost in performance at Suzuka but they were still well behind the pace of the Red Bulls.
And Button now realises that if Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull team-mate Webber can repeat the one-two they recorded in Japan, his title hopes will almost certainly be finished.
“It’s a lot more difficult for us now, as a team and in the drivers’ championship,” the 30-year-old said.
“In Korea, if we don’t turn up with some good improvements and we don’t have the legs on the Red Bulls, it’s almost impossible then.”
Parts
He added: “There are a quite a few things on the car. Some of them worked well, the other parts didn’t work quite as expected.
“But they will be on the car in Korea. We know they give us a good chunk of lap time and it was disappointing they didn’t work here.”
Despite the disappointing results, Button was still quick to praise the efforts his team made to fit the new parts.
“I’ve never seen so many parts put on a car, every race we go to. It’s just a pity that we couldn’t run some of the parts here,” he said.
“Hopefully in Korea we’ll have a step forward. Hopefully all the changes we make will challenge the Red Bulls.”
Although Webber currently has a points advantage, Button predicts it will be Vettel who proves to be stronger during the title run in.
Button said: “Vettel has to beat Mark twice more to be on the same points as him, and I’d say that Vettel does have the legs on him in qualifying. Over three races, he would have the advantage over Mark.
“If those two cars have an advantage over everyone else, I don’t think there’ll be any pressure on Vettel and I think he’ll perform better.”
