Webber 'stronger' than Vettel - Button

Championship leader Jenson Button has stepped up the psychological war with title rival Sebastian Vettel by suggesting the German is a shaky contender for the 2009 title.

German Vettel, 22, dominated the recent British Grand Prix by securing pole, setting the fastest lap of the race and winning, while his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber finished second.

Vettel and Webber are separated by only 3.5 points in the drivers' standings and Briton Button, with a big points lead over the pair, suggested his Australian opponent is the rival to watch at the Nurburgring.

"I think Mark is going to be quick here. He has more experience round here than Sebastian does. Sebastian has never raced in an F1 car here.

"Consistency-wise, Webber looks stronger," Button added. "He's a lot smoother and looks less ragged than Sebastian."

As a heavy downpour fell on the German circuit late on Thursday, the weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend looked similarly cold and fickle.

But Button believes the situation will be different to Silverstone three weeks ago, when his BGP001 struggled to gets its tyres up to temperature.

"I'd rather it was hotter, but ... the softer tyre is better for us," he said. "It should be okay."