In the wake of a disastrous San Marino Grand Prix, Jenson Button made a much-publicized visit to his team's Brackley HQ in a clear attempt to boost morale.

Two weeks later, at the Nurburgring, before the Honda had even fired up, the Englishman was dismissing his chances of challenging for a win, and now, on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix, he's at it again.

"It seems that other people have made bigger steps forward than we have," he told reporters at Barcelona today. "We've been left behind a little bit by Renault and Ferrari.

"I think on a good weekend we'll be close to the McLaren and might even, if the Michelin tyres are working well, get close to Ferrari," he added, though without any discernable conviction. "But I don't think we will get close to the Renaults on a circuit like this.

"This is a circuit where you need very good aerodynamics and the Renault has that, the McLaren has that and the Ferrari has that," he admitted.

Ho hum.