We'll bounce back - Jenson Button

"Silverstone was a disappointing weekend, but we'll bounce back," says Jenson Button. "Vodafone McLaren Mercedes never gives up. We've reviewed our pitstop procedure to ensure we don't have a repeat of the problem that put me out of the British Grand Prix and my focus is now on improving the car. We're working flat-out to improve performance."

Jenson's MP4-26 featured a series of upgrades at Silverstone and there will be more new parts on the car at this weekend's German Grand Prix. The pace of development in F1 is relentless and the undulating 3.2-mile Nurburgring features a mix of fast, medium and slow-speed corners, through which driveability is crucial.

"I think the Nurburgring will suit our car better than either of the last two circuits (Valencia and Silverstone)," says Jenson. "The circuit has a nice flow and our car is generally well balanced, so I hope we'll be quick.

"I enjoy racing there because it's old school: it's one of those old and narrow circuits that's unforgiving. In a way, I think that's good because you want to see mistakes being punished. It puts the drivers on edge a little more, but that's okay. There's a bit more adrenaline running through our veins."

The weather will most likely add to the challenge because the Eifel Mountains, situated in the western fringes of Germany, have their own microclimate. It's not unusual to get four seasons in one day and when the rain falls, it often pours.

"You have to be prepared for everything at the Nurburgring," says Jenson. "You expect to use intermediate or wet tyres at some point over the weekend, and who can forget the 2007 race? It started dry, but had to be red-flagged after a handful of laps due to a waterlogged track. A crazy amount of water came down in the space of 10 minutes, but that's the Nurburgring for you."

Rain has featured in many of the great races at the track, some of which took place on the notorious Nurburgring Nordschleife, the 14-mile rollercoaster that lies adjacent to the modern circuit. In 1968 Jackie Stewart won the race by four minutes in treacherous conditions and referred to the track as "The Green Hell".
Jenson has driven the Nordschleife in a road car and he has no intention of ever racing at the track.

"It's an amazing circuit," says Jenson, "but I'd never want to race there or drive around there in the wet. I did half a wet lap in a road car and it was unbelievable, just so slippery! I certainly wouldn't want to drive an F1 car on the Nordschleife because it would probably end in tears. Modern cars aren't built to ride bumps.

"I watched the highlights of the 1974 British Grand Prix recently and the cars were bounced all over the track. They could absorb the bumps in those days, but modern cars – which start hitting the floor at just 95mph – would skid off the road."

Bumps won't be an issue in Sunday's race and Jenson's goal is clear: "I've been on the podium at the Nurburgring, but I've never won at the track," he says.

"Let's go there and win it this year. "The German fans will be supporting Michael [Schumacher] and Sebastian [Vettel], but we have Mercedes engines and it would be fantastic to give Mercedes-Benz victory in their home race."