Button: Lack of form hard to deal with at McLaren

Jenson Button has explained how the lack of form has been very hard for all at McLaren to come to terms with given the team’s rich heritage in Formula One.

McLaren’s lack of form in 2013 has been well-documented as the British team has failed to finish any higher than 5th despite winning seven races last year, somewhat muting the 50th birthday celebrations at Woking this year.

“For both Sergio and I it’s been a difficult season. McLaren is known for being at the front, fighting for race wins, and definitely fighting for podiums at pretty much every grand prix,” Button explained to Sky Sports.

“So when you don’t have that it’s mentally very tough.”

However, the Briton believes that the team has come together to work through the difficult period.

“Although the start of the season was difficult for us, as it was for the whole team, I really do feel we have grown together and improved over that period of time,” he said.

“I’ve had bad seasons before, so I know how tough it can be, but for McLaren it’s something that doesn’t happen very often.”

McLaren’s last winless season came in 2006 as Ferrari and Renault dominated proceedings. Interestingly, Button was the only driver from outside of the two teams to win a race, claiming his maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Button may take comfort from his last winless season – 2008 – when he scored just three points before going on to win the 2009 world championship in one of the greatest fairytales in the history of the sport.

Although McLaren does appear to have made progress in recent weeks, any hopes of finishing any higher than fifth in the constructors’ championship may be shelved in favor of focusing on the 2014 car.