Highlights

Motor racing-Hockenheim glory far away for Barrichello

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-07-28 09:03

Technical director Geoff Willis has already been sidelined and is now at home on 'gardening leave' while he considers his options.

British newspapers have stopped talking up Button's prospects, after 111 starts without a win, while Barrichello felt obliged to knock down a report this week that suggested he was considering calling it quits at the end of next year.

"Give me a break," he said.

Team boss Nick Fry did his best to remain optimistic after France but it is becoming more of an effort as the championship unfolds.

"Are we going to win the championship this year? Of course not," said Fry after Magny-Cours. "It's a write-off in terms of championship aspirations.

"In terms of our development process, it (the season) obviously has to be one where we work hard, we learn from that and try to improve again over the winter and build that into next year's car."

There are still hopes for a strong finish to the season, even if Renault and Ferrari remain out of reach, and Hockenheim could just possibly see the start of something better.

Button was on the front row last year, finishing third, and in 2004 was runner-up to Schumacher when he also finished third in the championship.

"It's good to be here, at a circuit that I enjoy and after a few improvements at the test," the Briton told reporters on Thursday.

"I'm not going to talk it up too much, but for me the test was a good one. Most importantly the reliability was very good and I think that we've made some improvements and this is a circuit where the car works well.

"If the tyres are working in the way they should be, we should be definitely in a points scoring position."