Jenson Button has come to the defence of Silverstone’s ailing reputation following the latest salvo by Bernie Ecclestone in his long campaign for improvements there.
He said it was essential that the Northamptonshire venue should continue to host a Formula One race, going so far as to say that he could not understand why its future was under discussion.
With its contract up for renewal in 2009, the perennial row about facilities has started up again with Bernie issuing more dire warnings about the sport’s future in Britain.
But in a radio interview with BBC 5Live Button said that he thought Silverstone was a great location and a great circuit.
He said: “We’ve had a sell-out crowd for a few years now, so it’s difficult to think why we’re not going to have a British Grand Prix.
“From my perspective, I love racing at Silverstone. From the driver’s point of view, it’s a very challenging circuit.”
Button also told the BBC how he had great hopes for Honda’s future now former Ferrari technical supremo Ross Brawn was on board.
He said: “I think we have some real technical direction with Ross Brawn in the team.
“When I heard Ross was going to become part of the team I was so, so happy. It is one of the best things that could happen to the team and it really shows Honda’s focus to achieve for them to employ someone with so much talent.
“As Michael Schumacher said of Ross, he is the ‘super-brain’ of formula one. If he cannot help us win a championship then we do not deserve to be here.”
He admitted that he had found the last season very frustrating but said that, towards the end of the year, his team had made progress in identifying the issues holding them back – both in mechanical and personnel terms.
“We were lacking some quality aerodynamicists but we have them now, and they have come in with some great ideas.
“I think we can achieve a lot in the future and we are all going to work very hard.”