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Button relishing being title underdog

Jenson Button: "I'm actually looking forward to taking the fight to the leaders" © Sutton Images

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Jenson Button is relishing his position as the underdog in this year's title fight and is looking forward to taking an all-or-nothing approach to the final three races of the season.

Button took last year's title after gaining a healthy points margin in the first seven races and then adopting a strategy of damage limitation in the second half of the season. He is currently 31 points adrift of championship leader Mark Webber and close to dropping out of contention, but still believes he stands a good chance.

"It's all relative," he said. "At this time of the season, if you're ahead on points then you can't do anything risky, but if you're behind, then you've got more confidence to be aggressive, because you've got less to lose. For me, it's a very different situation compared to where I was last year, and I'm actually looking forward to taking the fight to the leaders, because I've got nothing to lose by doing that.

"If it doesn't come off, at least I'll know that I'll have given it everything. And luck has a habit of going in cycles, our team hasn't had the greatest of fortunes recently, so who knows what'll happen at the next race? It could all turn around."

He said the McLaren did not fulfil its potential in Japan and is confident of a better result at the next round in Korea.

"If we'd got everything right in qualifying then things would probably have been a little better for the race. But the car felt great to drive, you could take it to the limit, lean on it, and it would stay planted. And that's encouraging for where we want to be in the final three races, where I believe we'll be more of a challenge at the front."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.