Button says McLaren still far from "big points"

Although the team scored its best result of the year in the previous race in Monaco - where Button finished ninth and Fernando Alonso was fifth - both drivers conceded the car's performance was not what they had expected on a track where engine power is not so crucial.

Honda is introducing a new turbo for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, having used two developments tokens for the upgrade.

But while Button thinks the team will be "alright" in Montreal, he says McLaren still needs quite a bit more time.

"Big points? I think it is going to be a while before we are actually competitive enough to fight for big points, but we are making good progress," said Button.

"People may think this is a circuit that won't suit our car but it will be alright.

"We have come here with some upgrades which should help us. It is not big. We are efficient in terms of our car, I know ExxonMobil are working hard with Honda on fuel, so we have an upgrade here that should help us in that area."

Although McLaren has taken a significant step forward compared to last year, the British team remains far from the frontrunners.

Button insists, however, that he is pleased with the progress being made.

"From the inside we know where we are. We know we are improving and the atmosphere in the team is very good, Fernando and I are very experienced, we bring a lot to the team in terms of our experience and direction.

"It is always very difficult because we are in a season where we want to get the best result we can, but with regulation change next year, it changes everything in terms of how much effort is put into that single season.

"I am happy with the progress being made. We feel a lot of the time we are getting the maximum out of the car, which is the main thing right now.

"We are quite a way off the pace but it will come, it will just take a bit of time – it just takes a bit longer than you want."

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble

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