Formula One news

Button hoping for Turkish delight

It has been a near-perfect start to the season for Jenson Button, with five wins from the first six races of 2009. This weekend's race is Istanbul will throw new variables into the mix, however, as the Englishman looks to beat Michael Schumacher's record of most wins from the first seven races of the season.

Button's 2006 result of fourth was an Istanbul best for the Englishman

A third place in China was Button's only appearance on a podium step other the top one this year and his win in Monaco last time out equalled German Schumacher's record of five wins from the first six races of a season, first set in 2002 and equalled in 2004. No man has ever won six of the first seven races, however, handing Button an opportunity to make more history.

"The Turkish Grand Prix is always a race that I look forward to as I really enjoy driving the Istanbul Park circuit and have been quite competitive there in the past," said the 29-year-old, whose best result in Turkey was fourth for Honda in 2006. "Hermann Tilke (track designer) did a great job with the layout of the track and the changes in gradient are great fun and quite challenging for the drivers."

Button's Honda rounds the quadruple-apexed Turn 8 in 2007

If his pace from races so far in 2009 is anything to go by, it is more likely that the championship leader will be looking in his mirrors more than at rear wings although the Brawn driver enjoys the track's many overtaking zones, such as Turns 1 and 3. "You can also pass down the hill into Turn 9 and at turns 12 and 13 if you brake late enough and get it just right," he continued.

"Turn 8 is obviously the corner that everyone talks about and it's probably the longest corner that I've ever driven; it's quite high G-force, up to 5G for seven seconds, which puts a lot of stress on your neck - you have to be as smooth as possible through the triple apex and, if you get it right and take it flat, it is one of those corners where you exit with a huge smile having made up a lot of time."

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