Button expects close battle in Hungary GP

(EPA)

McLaren's Jenson Button expects another close fight between the top teams at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Button's team-mate Lewis Hamilton won a race-long battle with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber in Germany on Sunday.

On arriving at the Hungaroring, Button said: "We've had four different winners in the last four races and hopefully we'll have a great race here." Webber added: "It will be tight again. All three teams have shown form."

Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren have won a race apiece at the last three grands prix in Valencia, Silverstone and the Nurburgring. Sebastian Vettel has built a 77-point lead over his Red Bull team-mate Webber in the championship, with Hamilton third and 82 points further back, but hopes are now high that there can now be a real three-way fight for race victories.

"It's a great time for Formula One to have three top teams fighting at the front," said Button, who took the chequered flag in Canada but retired from the last two races.

"If you look at the last few races we've all been making improvements in different areas. There's been a good fight and no easy victories. There is going to be a lot of competition. We are all pushing as hard as we can."

Webber is the only one of the top five drivers in the championship who is yet to win a race this season. And after leading for one stint of the German GP, the Australian is aiming to emerge victorious from the tight front-running field.

"I'm looking to give it another crack this weekend," said Webber, whose strong record in Hungary includes a race victory last season. "The layout of the Hungaroring track should be suited to our car and it is important we have a good race because the next two tracks... are traditionally places we do not go so well."