From PlanetF1:



Jenson Button feels next month's British GP would become "a very special race" if he and Lewis Hamilton continue to spearhead this year's title showdown.

Back-to-back one-twos in the last two races in Turkey and Canada, with Hamilton ahead of Button, means the McLaren duo now lead the Championship standings going into Sunday's European Grand Prix in Valencia.

For the first time since winning the title in 2008, Hamilton is out in front by just three points from Button, with Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber a further three points in arrears.

With Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel also within 19 points of Hamilton, the scrap for the Championship is an enthralling affair, with five different leaders after the eight races to date.

Around Valencia's port circuit this weekend, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari are all hoping for a strong showing.

Button, though, would love nothing more than for him and Hamilton to be holding sway in the standings come the end of it to give a partisan crowd at Silverstone even more reason to cheer.

"It's a great Championship, with the race in Canada highlighting how exciting Formula One is at the moment," said Button.

"There are just six points between the top three drivers, but if we can go into the British Grand Prix leading it would be a very special race.

"It's great for this team they've two drivers fighting it out in front, and we're so close on points.

"We've won more races than any other team this year, with Lewis and I winning two races each, which is a good position for us to be in.

"Valencia should again suit our car, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and the circuit, which I love, even though I had a bad race there last year."

That particular race was much later in the year last season at a time when Button was starting to show signs of caution due to his earlier Championship lead being whittled away.

It culminated in the 30-year-old making a slow start from his fifth place on the grid before finishing seventh in the race.

With the F1 field so tightly bunched at present, Button knows this weekend is again too close to call.

"I've heard Red Bull will have a big upgrade, so we will see what happens," added Button

"But it's not just about us and Red Bull, as we've seen, because Formula One is a tough, very competitive game at the moment.

"On their day Ferrari are very quick, and if everything had gone very well for them in Canada they might have been challenging for the win.

"Mercedes seem to have dropped off for Canada, but they could be there in the next one.

"But as a team, we've taken maximum points in the last two races and it feels like we've really gathered considerable momentum.

"The team really is functioning as a single unit, so we head into Valencia hopeful of being able to again capitalise on that determination and ambition."

Like Button, team principal Martin Whitmarsh is also hoping for his two drivers to have the edge in the standings going into the team's home race at Silverstone.

Asked if it would be a dream for McLaren to be leading the title chase ahead of the British Grand Prix, Whitmarsh replied: "Of course.

"We have hundreds of people who don't get to see the cars running more than once a year, so they will be there.

"For all the staff it will be great if we are leading the Championship, and also great if we can get a result there."