Button: British GP still exciting despite McLaren woes

The 2009 world champion has never finished on the podium as a Formula 1 driver at Silverstone, and McLaren's current form makes it highly unlikely he will do so this weekend.

However, that does not mean he is heading into the weekend downbeat.

“I think for a British driver it's very special, because you've got the home support,” he said.

“But I think for every driver it's a great weekend. There seem to be a lot of British fans that really, truly love the sport.

“Normally they get rained on, but still pretty much every year it's a full house, whatever the conditions, which is fantastic.

"They are true, true racing fans. It reminds me of the old days of karting or racing in Formula Ford or F3.

“Me being British, I absolutely love the race. I like the layout of the circuit - I preferred the old one, but I still like the new circuit. And it's a race you want to do well at when it's your home Grand Prix. 

"It's always been a tricky one for me - not through lack of trying, just through speed most of the time.”

Silverstone a true classic

Button reckons that Silverstone would still be a big race even if he wasn't a local.

“I think it would still be a special Grand Prix that you would look forward to, because there's so much history there.

"And it's one of the few great circuits that we have that are fast and flowing, like Suzuka, Spa, and I suppose Monza. So it is a special circuit.”