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Britain: Button presses Hamilton in conference
By Phil Huff July 4 2008
Honda Racing F1's Jenson Button sat in the Thursday press conference at Silverstone, and spoke to the assembled media about David Coulthard, the RA108, and the future at Honda. There was also a challenge laid down to Lewis Hamilton... For the complete transcript of what was said, read on.

Jenson, what are your feelings about David Coulthard retiring?

Jenson Button: In a way for sure I am disappointed. If you look at David’s career he has achieved a lot and a lot more that most drivers will ever achieve in their F1 career. I have also always got on well with DC since 2000. We have been pretty good friends around the paddock but also away from the circuit. I will miss him at the races for sure but I’m also happy for him that he has made the decision to do something else next year. It is nice when you can make that decision yourself and find something else that can take up your time. Obviously, he has a beautiful fiancee to look after also.

You spoke recently about how sure you are that Honda can provide you with a winning car. How long do you think it will be?

JB: It is not going to be this year for sure. Next year I can’t say we are going to have a winning car. I can say we are going to make some very big improvements and obviously the regulation changes will make a big difference to all of us. It helps us get back what we have dropped behind. When you have one bad year in F1 you lose a lot of time and to get that back within one or two years is almost impossible. It is going to help us a lot with the rule changes. I know at the factory that we are doing everything we can as I am sure every other team is. But we are a more complete team than we have ever been. I think we have got a lot of very talented people in the right areas and they are all working together very well. I know we will make a much better car next season, but it is what other people do. We really cannot see the future and see what other people can achieve. But I am happy with the way things are going. I am in a happy place at the moment.

What sort of changes have you seen in the team in the last few months?

JB: I think a lot of it is the way of working and obviously the technical leadership of Ross (Brawn – team principal) has made a big difference and making sure that people within in the team working in their own areas do everything they can but also working as a team, not having the mechanical, aerodynamical side, all the different areas doing their work individually but bringing everything together. The atmosphere is pretty electric within Honda at the moment. We are very excited about the future. I know it is easy to say when you are having a bad season but a lot has changed in the team from last year and for sure it needed to. Things are moving in the right way and we will definitely see the results in the future.

Any improvements for this race?

JB: We have got a few improvements. There is a different front wing – front and nose which is definitely better plus a few other improvements. Last week’s test was a pretty positive test. I am happy with the car and the way it feels, but that mid-pack is so competitive. If you don’t get the balance perfect every race weekend, if you don’t get the maximum out of the car, you are not going to challenge for points and you are not challenge the middle group. That’s the position we are in, but it just means we have to give it our all this weekend and get out heads down and concentrate on the important things.

We are almost at the middle of the season, at the end of this race, yet we don’t know who will be the championship leader. Can we think that this year it is a much closer and better championship than it was last year?

JB: It’s been a very competitive start to the year which is great to see, and it’s also nice to see another team challenging for victory, obviously in Canada, so it’s good to have three teams fighting it out.

Lewis, at the Reebok launch the other day you were quoted as saying you thought you were fitter than Jenson. Is that the case?

Lewis Hamilton: I’ve noticed that Jenson has a bit of a belly and so… I’m only joking! I was just trying to be positive.
JB: They’re called muscles.
David Coulthard: Place your bets and go win the fight.
LH: Well, you’ve just done some event recently. What was that?
JB: It was a triathlon.
LH: Yeah, I’m not sure whether I could do a triathlon, so I’m not going to say that I could beat him at that, but generally I work my arse off… you work your arse off to be fitter than me, and you’ve got to believe that you’re fitter than me and the same way the other way.
JB: I do believe…
LH: Yeah, so, what I think…
JB: I must admit, I do believe.
LH: It would be good to have a challenge.
JB: I’m sure we can work something out there. If you don’t like triathlons… The good thing is that you’ve got three different activities.
DC: Run a lap of the track.
JB: Exactly, we could try different things. I’ve got a triathlon on July 27th if you’re interested.
LH: Where’s your strongest point?
JB: Umm, all of them! And yours? We could do it for charity, I’m sure, as well. Yeah?
LH: Yeah? Well, shall we get this…
JB: We’ll get DC in there as well.
LH: Yeah, get DC as well.
DC: I’ll be the referee.
LH: You can be the bottle-holder.
JB: Yeah, exactly, yeah.

So I think we’ve got the answer there: DC is going to be the referee and you two are going to do Bath, is that right?

LH: I’m not putting myself into it, I don’t know. I’ll probably be working or doing something else.
DC: He’s throwing down a man challenge, you can’t turn down a man challenge.
LH: We’ll see, we’ll see. We’ll talk about it personally afterwards.

Is this going to happen or not, guys? Come on! Yes or no?

LH: Well, me, I’m a competitor, so I’m for one to say yes, but I’ve got people behind me who may…
JB: What if I say £10,000 to the charity of your choice if you beat me? What do you think?
LH: Are you trying to steer me off this championship or what?
JB: It’s the only thing I can be competitive in at the moment. Think about it.
LH: Yeah, I will.

Lewis, if you were to compete in a triathlon with Jenson, are you pretty adept at all three of the events?

LH: So, there’s swimming, cycling and running. How far do you have to go? What is it? Fill me in, fill me in.
JB: 1.5 kms swim, 40 kms bike and a 10 kms run.
LH: That’s not too bad.
JB: You’ve got three weeks to practise.
LH: That’s not too bad. I was just checking my calendar, so I wasn’t being rude. I was trying to see whether I’m busy that day and unfortunately I don’t think I am. No, honestly, the biggest incentive is, if I do beat you, then you’ve got some money for a charity which is great. However, you do have an advantage as you’ve already done one, and I already know that by doing one you’re better the next time. But man, I’m up for it, I’m up for it.
JB: But then again, you have the advantage in a racing car at the moment, you’re in a better car so… It’s pretty even.
LH: OK, let’s do it. It’s a date.

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