MONTREAL, Canada - Former championship favourite McLaren's Jenson Button, is being swallowed up by F1's fascinating 2012 season.
The first winner in 2012, Button's form has been sliding recently and it hit rock bottom in Canada, where he finished 16th while team mate Lewis Hamilton raced to victory.
He admitted afterwards that he would leave Montreal "confused and very lost".
'HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE'
He has qualified 10th or lower throughout May and June, has only half of championship leader Hamilton's points tally, and is eighth in the title standings.
Button said: "There was nothing there. It has been the same at the last couple of races. I don't know why that is."
Button, the 2011 championship runner-up, also admitted he was at a loss to explain how his celebrated skill of looking after his tyres was proving no benefit this season. Compounding the mystery is that Hamilton, the more aggressive driver, is making the heavily-degrading Pirellis work for him.
Button said: "I haven't got a clue at the moment. Driving around 1.5 seconds slower than the leaders, one of whom is my team mate... I don't know why because I can't push the car any quicker.
"It is not the tyres. I cannot be the only person who can't drive the tyres. It's impossible. That felt like the limit of the car. I am leaving here confused and very lost."
The first winner in 2012, Button's form has been sliding recently and it hit rock bottom in Canada, where he finished 16th while team mate Lewis Hamilton raced to victory.
He admitted afterwards that he would leave Montreal "confused and very lost".
'HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE'
He has qualified 10th or lower throughout May and June, has only half of championship leader Hamilton's points tally, and is eighth in the title standings.
Button said: "There was nothing there. It has been the same at the last couple of races. I don't know why that is."
Button, the 2011 championship runner-up, also admitted he was at a loss to explain how his celebrated skill of looking after his tyres was proving no benefit this season. Compounding the mystery is that Hamilton, the more aggressive driver, is making the heavily-degrading Pirellis work for him.
Button said: "I haven't got a clue at the moment. Driving around 1.5 seconds slower than the leaders, one of whom is my team mate... I don't know why because I can't push the car any quicker.
"It is not the tyres. I cannot be the only person who can't drive the tyres. It's impossible. That felt like the limit of the car. I am leaving here confused and very lost."