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Button: Is McLaren in a better position?

MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Briton Jenson Button presented a less gloomy picture of the McLaren Formula 1 teams prospects on Wednesday (May 20), 10 days after he openly doubted whether the misfiring former champions would score any points this year.

Button told reporters in Monaco: "As you might have noticed, I was very outspoken," after comments he made post the 2015 Spanish GP when he finished 16th and was lapped. "When emotions are running high you always exaggerate things. It was a tough race for me in Barcelona.

"It was good to have the test three days later, also in Barcelona, to really put everything right. The car felt much nicer to drive, much more consistent, especially on the long-run pace."

CONFIDENCE GREW IN TESTING

McLaren, six races into a new partnership with Honda, has yet to score a point in its worst-yet start to a season for the sport's second most successful team.

In Spain, the 2009 F1 championtold reporters: "After today, I don't think I expect points at all this year. The first 30 laps... were the scariest laps of my life."

Button tested parts for Monaco, the showcase race of the season, after the Spanish GP and said it had gone well and he was much happier. "You could see how far we have come since February as a whole team but especially Honda and the Japanese side of the team.

"There was so much more confidence within and (I was) really happy to complete the number of laps we did but also to do a lot of very useful work. It was a really good day and I hope we can carry that through to this weekend."

Button tweeted on May 13 while testing in Barcelona for Sunday's (May 24) Monaco GP:

Button's team mate Fernando Alonso, a double F1 champion and two-times Monaco winner, has already predicted that McLaren will score points this weekend.

The Spaniard was similarly confident at his home race but retired with a brake problem.

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2015 F1 season – fresh reports every day.

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