Defending world champion Jenson Button said Thursday that he is optimistic improvements to his McLaren can make him and team-mate Lewis Hamilton more competitive in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
Button, who finished eighth after starting from 17th place on the grid at the Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks ago, said he hoped in particular to see an improvement in the team's qualifying performances.
"Looking back, it was a tricky weekend in Malaysia," he said with understatement, referring to the bungled decisions made during a tropical downpour in qualifying.
"We had some problems, but I think we have solved them now.
"Apart from qualifying, we had an issue with the car and we went the wrong way at first. I thought it was a balance problem, but in fact it was something else on the car.
"So we have had a good look at that and I am happy now."
Button said that since the race at Sepang, he had been back to Britain to spend a day in the simulator.
"It all went very well and I think we found out what we could have done better in Malaysia and what we can we hope do better here.
"Then I went to Japan with (my girlfriend) Jessica and did a lot of training and enjoyed the good food there, and acclimatised to the time zone ready to be here in China."
Button said he liked the Shanghai International Circuit and believed it would suit the McLaren car.
"It has some good high speed corners which will suit us and I think we have improved things for the low speed ones -- plus the long straights are good for us as we are very efficient in a straight line.
"The only thing is the weather because it is very cold so it may be a problem getting heat into the tyres. We are going to have to work hard for Sunday and the important thing is to improve in qualifying against the Red Bulls. I think we have great race pace."
Copyright 2010 AFP European Edition
