No mind games but Button wants Vettel to worry

Jenson Button insists he is not reverting to "mind games", but he admits to wanting 2011's runaway championship leader Sebastian Vettel to "worry".

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German Vettel is 88 points clear of his first non-Red Bull title challenger with eight races to go, moving McLaren's Jenson Button to admit that a psychological edge will be important for the chasing rivals.

"If we don't let him have a sniff (of victory) over the next few it will start hurting and we will see how he reacts," the Briton is quoted by the Guardian.

Button admitted he got worried en route to the 2009 title when he was struggling for results despite a big points lead.

But Vettel has an even bigger lead than did Button two years ago, and the 24-year-old told F1's official website: "I think there are many who would love to walk in my shoes and there is nobody far and wide I would want to change with".

Button conceded that the task for Vettel's rivals in 2011 is "bloody hard", arguably made worse by the situation at McLaren with joint number ones.

"Maybe (Ferrari's) Alonso is in the best position but will their car be quick enough? I'm not so sure," he said.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso told El Mundo at Spa-Francorchamps: "It's not impossible, but to think that it (the championship) is just there, within reach, would be to fool yourself.

"We will be there, trying until the last moment, while knowing it is a very difficult situation for everybody; for me, Hamilton and Webber as well."