British driver Jenson Button has called on McLaren to quickly resolve their mechanical problems if they want to avoid the season ending in failure.

McLaren’s challenge has been undermined as they have only managed to get one car home in each of their last three races.

Running second in Italy, Button was forced out with a fuel system issue, while in Singapore on Sunday a gearbox problem wrecked Hamilton’s hopes of a win in a race he was comfortably leading.

“It is affecting us in the constructors’,” said Button as McLaren trail Red Bull in the championship by 38 points.

“It is such a shame because the team in every other area are doing such a good job. But two failures in two races is not what McLaren are about, so we have to solve these issues and move forward.

“The pace of the car is there, so that’s why it is tough as well. We know we are throwing away a lot of points – 43 in the last two races – so yes, it is pretty tough.”

Hamilton and Button are 52 and 75 points adrift of title leader Fernando Alonso with six races remaining.

Hamilton said: “We’ve had far too many bad races this year, and that is probably why we’re in the position we’re in.”