Butt's weary of the bulls
JENSON BUTTON yesterday admitted his rivals are closing fast to threaten his dream of a fi rst world title.
Button has to dig deep on the run
The F1 ace gets ready for the swim
Button with his medal after his best effort
The Brawn driver holds a healthy 181⁄2-point lead in the championship thanks to his start to the season when he won six of the fi rst seven races.
But three races without a podium finish have given his rivals hope of reeling him in.
The Red Bull pair of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are now his closest challengers and Button knows it will take hard work to stay ahead.
"When you have the opportunity you have to take it," said Button.
"This opportunity is the best I have had in Formula One by far. There might not be an opportunity again.
"It's got be heads down focusing on getting the best out of the car every race we go to.
"I am leading the world championship but the last three races for us have been a bit more diffi cult than we expected.
"We can put it all down to the cooler climates. Even in Hungary the circuit was a lot cooler on the Sunday than it was earlier in the week.
"But it is down to us to make the car work in those cold conditions.
"If we don't solve those issues, we'll be
gobbled up by the Red Bulls because they seem to be working in hot and cold weather.
"We've been through more diffi cult times so we can solve these problems.
We have just got to stay relaxed and make sure we get back to the front, which we will in Valencia.
"We need to beat the Red Bulls. We can't sit around and collect points - it is not enough."
The European Grand Prix in Valencia a fortnight on Sunday will also see the return to the sport of seven-time world
champion Michael Schumacher.
The German agreed to drive for Ferrari after Felipe Massa was seriously injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Button said: "It's diffi cult to know how to feel about it because of Massa.
"Michael will be straight on the pace. Don't expect him to be sitting around at the back."
Button yesterday recorded a personal best at the Mazda London Triathlon, clocking in 2hrs 7mins 2secs.
He said: "I loved it. It has been my best ever Sunday morning."