Button in positive mood

Jenson Button is prepared to put his emotions on show should he finally bring an end to one of the more bizarre sporting hoodoos.

With the British Grand Prix looming over the horizon, it means it must be time to focus on Button's inexplicably wretched record at Silverstone.

In 12 attempts at the Northamptonshire venue Button has never managed to clamber on to the podium, a feat he has achieved on 45 other occasions throughout his career across the world.

Put into greater perspective, there is only one other circuit on the current calendar - the upcoming new track in Austin aside of course - where Button has failed to claim a top-three place, and that is Korea, which has only staged two grands prix.

The odds on Button ending his Silverstone jinx would appear to be long when you consider his run of poor form heading into the race as he has managed just six points from his last five grands prix.

After starting the season with a win in Australia and finishing runner-up in China, the last couple of months have been nothing short of a struggle for the 32-year-old McLaren star.

There were signs in the last race in Valencia that Button was now getting to grips with his problems, but whether it will be enough to propel him on to the podium and to the acclaim of thousands of fans remains to be seen.

Button said: "Heading into the British Grand Prix I am positive.

"I have been through a difficult spell, and looking at the result in Valencia (qualified ninth and finished eighth) you would say it was the same.

"But personally I was a lot happier with the car over the weekend and how we improved it from the starting point we had.

"It wasn't the perfect weekend, but I feel happy we've definitely found a direction now as we were a little lost before.

"As a team there is still more we need to do to fight at the front in terms of developing the car.

"But I do think Silverstone is a circuit that suits the McLaren. It's high speed so it should be a circuit where we're quick.

"We have good downforce at high speed, which is something we don't probably have at low speed, so the car should be strong there.

"It's a very mixed season, which means it's sometimes difficult to know where your car is going to work well, but I'm pretty sure it's going to work well at Silverstone."

But the question is, will it be quick enough to push him into the top three for once, or will luck again desert him, as typified by last year?

Pushing for a podium finish, Button was forced to retire on lap 40 when his pit crew failed to secure the right-front wheel at a pit stop, resulting in him grinding to a halt just a few hundred yards from the garage.

Errors have notably been a feature of McLaren's pit stops this season, but hopefully Button will avoid any such issues in his bid to at least thrust himself back into title contention.

Second in the table and trailing team-mate Lewis Hamilton by two points after the first three races, Button has plummeted to eighth and 62 points adrift of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso five races later.

But then that Button confidence comes to the fore again as he said: "I know I'm a long way behind and that I've put myself in a very difficult situation.

"I know I've made it more difficult for myself compared to most other people, but you never give up until it's not possible any more, and especially heading into the British Grand Prix.

"So I've every confidence in the world it's going to be a good weekend, and it just makes it all the more exciting as I try and chase down my rivals."

So just what does he think might happen should he manage to claim that elusive podium place at Silverstone?

"I think I would shed a tear," replied Button.

With Hamilton sat alongside him at the time, his fellow Briton said: "I don't think I'll shed a tear."

"Yeah, I would," said Button.

A laughing Hamilton added: "I'll let him do the crying. Don't worry mate, you can do it. It's all right."

If Button did emerge triumphant at Silverstone there would likely be many in the expected 125,500 crowd shedding tears of joy for a driver who has been near yet so far in the past.

In his first season in F1 in 2000 with Williams Button was fifth, followed by a fourth in 2004 with BAR, repeating the position two years ago in his maiden campaign with McLaren.

Those have been the sparse highlights, yet through thick and thin he remains a real hero with the fans.

"Silverstone is very special," said Button.

"There are always a lot of Union Jacks, a lot of support, there was a lot of rocket red (McLaren) caps last year, and hopefully it will be the same this year when we get there.

"I always enjoy racing at home. The atmosphere is unbeatable.

"While the race itself hasn't always been too kind to me, I go there every year knowing I can count on the support of the many thousands of fans.

"I've always had a lot of support at the British Grand Prix, even when I've had a bad weekend or been in an uncompetitive car, and it does take your breath away a little."