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Button expects another step forward in Monaco

Jenson Button: We're not yet where we want to be in terms of competitiveness" © Getty Images

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• Drivers:
• Jenson Button
• |
• Sergio Perez

Jenson Button is expecting another points haul for McLaren at the Monaco Grand Prix and is confident the team can take another step forward with its performance this weekend.

Button has scored points at all but one round this year despite McLaren's difficult start to the year, but the team did not make the step forward it had hoped for at the last round in Spain. However, he is hopeful of more progress this weekend and thinks both cars are capable of scoring points again.

"Everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been working flat-out since the Spanish Grand Prix," he said. "We're not yet where we want to be in terms of competitiveness, but I'm confident that we can make another small step forward in Monaco. We'll continue to chip away at the performance of the MP4-28 until it's capable of challenging at the front; there's no other agenda for a winning team like McLaren. The aim for Monaco is to get both cars home in the points, as we did in Barcelona."

Team-mate Sergio Perez is confident McLaren can be competitive in qualifying.

"The MP4-28 is improving, as we introduce upgrades and understand its performance better. It was more driveable in Spain a couple of weeks ago, particularly on light tanks. That will be vital in Monaco because qualifying is very important."

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Monaco could give his drivers a chance to shine.

"Our aim is to continue improving the performance of the MP4-28 in Monaco. The tight and twisty nature of the circuit makes its requirements fairly exceptional, but every kilometer that we complete with the car provides us with useful data because we have a very busy development programme. Overtaking opportunities are limited at Monaco, even with the DRS, so qualifying is going to be very important on Saturday afternoon. Both of our drivers know how to turn a quick lap, and Sergio can take a lot of confidence from his excellent performance during Q2 at the Spanish Grand Prix."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.