Monaco our best chance of a good result so far - Button

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Jenson Button reckons Monaco presents McLaren-Honda with the best opportunity so far this year to achieve a good race result.

As the team, and Honda in particular, continues its quest for performance, McLaren's drivers are hoping of improving their own track record accordingly.

Button, who has yet to secure a top 10 spot in qualifying, contrary to team mate Fernando Alonso who qualified P10 in Spain, is aiming to go at least one better than last year when he finished 8th in the Principality.

"Seventh would be a pretty awesome result here," Button admitted.

"We do have a good car but there are a lot of good cars out there, and it's going to be very difficult to beat any of them. Both Fernando and myself should be looking to get into Q3, and finishing within the points.

"It's our best chance of a good result with a straightforward weekend, with no retirements in front."

While the 2009 world champion is optimistic on his chances this weekend, Button acknowledged that McLaren-Honda's relative margin of progress is still substantial.

"There are lots of positives, but there is still an underlying issue with outright performance compared to Mercedes for example. There's still a big gain needed before we are competitive."

While McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has gone on record claiming that the team's MP4-31 is better than Ferrari's SF16-H, Button feels it's useless to compare chassis as performance is dependent on an overall package.

"There's no point commenting where we are because it's a package, and you still need an engine in the back. I think for us, the package around here should work.

"We're pretty good off the low-speed corners, we have good braking, high speed corners really aren't the strength of this car at the moment, but there's no point pointing at sa certain area we need to improve because there are many."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.