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Rediff.com  » Sports » Button to give team a pep talk

Button to give team a pep talk

By Alan Baldwin
April 24, 2006 11:08 IST
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Honda's Jenson Button will turn motivational speaker on Monday after a pitlane blunder blew his chances in the San Marino Grand Prix.

Race Report | Images

"I'm going into the factory and hopefully everyone's going to be there so we can have a little chat about the way things are going so far this year," the disappointed Button told reporters.

"It will be sort of a motivational speech," added Button. "I'm sure everyone needs it. Hopefully it will make the difference."

On Sunday, Button's race from the front row of the starting grid was wrecked by a wheel nut problem at the first pitstop and a huge gaffe by the 'lollipop man' in the second who released him while the refueller was still at work.

Mechanics were dragged to the floor as Button accelerated away with the fuel rig still attached and the nozzle breaking off as fuel spilt out of the broken hose.

Nobody was hurt, although one mechanic was drenched in fuel, with team boss Nick Fry thankful he was talking only about bruised egos rather than broken bones or worse.

Button calculated that the two 'issues' cost him 20 seconds and his chance of challenging for the podium. He finished seventh.

He said he had no hard feelings, embracing the guilty mechanic afterwards in a show of support, but felt a need to show the team that he was as determined and committed as ever.

WHOLE TEAM

"(It) will be an interesting meeting with the whole team and hopefully we can clear a few things up," he said.

"We have made mistakes but its not from being slack or not trying hard enough.

In four races, Button has qualified consistently in the top three. Yet he has not reaped the rewards, still without a first win after 104 starts.

Starting the season fully expecting to win, Honda have flattered to deceive as Renault won the first three races and then provided the main opposition to Michael Schumacher's winning Ferrari at Imola.

"We need to say what our problems are and it's no use pointing the finger at one person because for sure it won't happen again," added Button. "The guy feels terrible already I should think. And he doesn't deserve to feel that bad.

"It's just motivational really, so they know that I'm still very positive and giving everything and not going to sit back and think it doesn't matter any more.

"They know that I'm still pushing, that's why I'm going in to tell them that and make sure they feel the same way."

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Alan Baldwin
Source: REUTERS
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