Button blasts BAR after double failure in Malaysia

Jenson Button blasted BAR yesterday after the team's hopes of taking their first points of the Formula One season went up in smoke at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Briton Button and compatriot Anthony Davidson both retired after three laps of the season's second race with smoke coming from their engines.

"Compared to last year we've made a huge step back in every area," fumed Button, whose team finished last season as championship runners-up to Ferrari.

"It's just not good enough because we're quick. It's got to change and I don't think it'll change any time soon," he told Britain's ITV television.

"Compared to last year we've made a huge step back in every area. I'm angry. I'm very angry."

Davidson, the test driver called up as a late replacement for feverish Japanese Takuma Sato, pulled over with flames coming from his car's engine on the same lap as Button. A marshal extinguished the fire.

"It's a shame for the team. That's what the new engine regulations are for - to make it tough," said Davidson.

"It was a race of attrition and I was sure more cars would drop out. It was my first race for BAR Honda and not exactly what I wanted."

Ironically, both cars had new engines after BAR retired their drivers from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to exploit a technical loophole that has since been closed.

By failing to finish in Melbourne, BAR were allowed new engines without the 10-place penalty on the starting grid that would otherwise have applied.

BAR opted for the change knowing that their car was not at the level of the Renaults or McLarens but hoping to gain performance with the fresher engine.

Engines must last for two successive races this season, twice as much as before, and most of BAR's rivals were racing with engines that had already completed a race distance.

Yesterday's race at Sepang, with track temperatures around 50 degrees, was one of the hottest in history and a real test of reliability and endurance.