Malaysia: We couldn't have gone any quicker

By Phil Huff
March 20 2006

Honda Racing F1's Jenson Button raced as hard as he could for third in Malaysia, but admits that there's still work to do at the team to close the gap to Renault.

"There was no point during the race where we could have gone any quicker," said Button after the race. "The only problem we had was Scott Speed but, apart from that, there was nothing else there.

"That was the maximum I could get out of the car. We were flat out every lap.

"We want to be winning races and so just being on the podium is disappointing," continued Button, "but I think these two [Fisi and Alonso] have proved just how quick the Renault is especially around this circuit and that is what we have got to try and achieve and we are just not quick enough at the moment."

Whilst it's encouraging that Honda managed to secure a podium finish, Jenson's acceptance that the car is simply not quick enough to beat Renault, and maybe McLaren, makes the season ahead look particularly long.