Button focused on Monza

Date published : 30 Aug 2010 - 15:30:34

Jenson Button has already started working on his psychology ahead of next month's race in Italy in an attempt to rescue his Formula One world title hopes.

After being t-boned by title rival Sebastian Vettel in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix when running second, Button was understandably dejected in the immediate aftermath. The loss of 18 potential points means Button is now 35 adrift of McLaren team-mate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

But after a couple of hours of contemplation, Button's demeanour had changed dramatically, and now he will head to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix on September 12 in an ebullient mood. From Button there were no such phrases as 'I think' and 'I hope', instead they were replaced by 'I will' and 'I can'.

For Button, it is a case of changing his mindset, forgetting all about the title battle and instead focusing singularly on the race itself.

"When I got out of my car and walked into my drivers' room I said what happened had massively hurt my championship, and coming back from it would be very difficult," he said.

"But I was very down at that point, as you would be after losing so many points. I had gone from a massive high to a massive low.

"Looking at it now 35 points is still a lot, which in old money is about 14 points, but it's definitely still possible. I go to Monza positive I can have a good race, but also forgetting the championship.

"I'm in a position now where I have to work towards a race victory because if I come away with that, it's a very different atmosphere and a very different feeling for me. So that's my aim. It's a circuit I love, one I will do very well on this year, confident in the car and that I'll have a good weekend.

"I learned last year that you have to take every race as it comes and work on fine-tuning the car, on making sure it's the best for that race and not thinking too far ahead.

"And I'm definitely thinking like that for now. In two weeks' time we'll be in Monza, we'll have a good car and I will be fighting for a victory."