Button defends BAR performance

BAR has been setting some impressive times in winter testing, including breaking lap records, but critics suggest the car has been set up just to achieve those results. BAR made no secret of the fact that the 006 was light-fueled when Button broke ...

BAR has been setting some impressive times in winter testing, including breaking lap records, but critics suggest the car has been set up just to achieve those results. BAR made no secret of the fact that the 006 was light-fueled when Button broke the lap record at Barcelona in January, then the Englishman broke his own record two weeks later.

Jenson Button tests the new BAR 006.

Photo by LAT Photographic.

Button is adamant that recent test times are genuine and not an attempt to merely look good. "Apart from Barcelona, both with the new car and the interim model, we haven't really gone out to break the lap record," he said, according to Autosport.

"Now it's just happening that we are quick because of our work and that is great and helping to lift everyone in the team. We are just running through all of our test programs and somehow we always manage to be quick, which is good new."

"The times have come as a consequence of the speed of the car, not because we are going out with fuel loads to set quick times. Maybe people are running with more fuel than us, maybe some people are playing games, but at least we know we are sort of in the ballpark with the top teams."

Button has yet to set foot on the podium in his F1 career -- his best finish so far has been fourth, although he has been robbed of third on more than one occasion due to car failure. This year he intends to change that, and even hops for a victory.

"If I don't get a podium this year there will be something very wrong," he said. "If we aim for podiums, I think it's a realistic target. If we are in a position to finish on the podium on a regular basis, a win might happen too."