• European Grand Prix

Button targets 'special' homecoming

Jenson Button says it would be special to head into Silverstone with an advantage © Getty Images

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• Race:
• 1. • British Grand Prix
  2. • European Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Jenson Button

• Teams:
• McLaren

Jenson Button says that next month's British Grand Prix would be "a very special race" if his McLaren team capitalises on its recent run of form and continues to lead the standings after the European Grand Prix.

Button and team-mate Lewis Hamilton head into Sunday's European Grand Prix on a high after back-to-back one-twos in the last two races in Turkey and Canada.

"It's a great championship, with the race in Canada highlighting how exciting Formula One is at the moment," Button told Press Association Sport. "There are just six points between the top three drivers, but if we [Button and Hamilton] can go into the British Grand Prix leading it would be a very special race."

For the first time since winning the title in 2008, Hamilton leads the championship by just three points from Button, with Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber a further three points in arrears. But Button sees the close team rivalry as a healthy one for the team and the championship.

"It's great for this team they've two drivers fighting it out in front, and we're so close on points. We've won more races than any other team this year, with Lewis and I winning two races each, which is a good position for us to be in.

"Valencia should again suit our car, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and the circuit, which I love, even though I had a bad race there last year."

With several of the top teams bringing new upgrades to Valencia, Button knows McLaren may not have it all their way at this weekend's race.

"I've heard Red Bull will have a big upgrade, so we will see what happens. But it's not just about us and Red Bull, as we've seen, because Formula One is a tough, very competitive game at the moment. On their day Ferrari are very quick, and if everything had gone very well for them in Canada they might have been challenging for the win. Mercedes seem to have dropped off for Canada, but they could be there in the next one.

"But as a team, we've taken maximum points in the last two races and it feels like we've really gathered considerable momentum. The team really is functioning as a single unit, so we head into Valencia hopeful of being able to again capitalise on that determination and ambition."

Like Button, team principal Martin Whitmarsh is also hoping that his two drivers have the edge in the standings going into the team's home race at Silverstone.

"For all the staff it will be great if we are leading the championship, and also great if we can get a result there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.