BUTTON STILL BACKS HAMILTON

THERE may be nine races of this record-breaking 21-race season to go but it is crunch time at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the field here and team-mate Nico Rosberg must surely seize the initiative if he is to take their title fight to the wire.

Hamilton, too, is under pressure. The Briton needs to justify his team’s calculated decision to take a grid penalty — for exceeding the allocated number of engine components — at this circuit.

So great are Spa’s overtaking opportunities that Hamilton is expected to limit the damage and retain his championship lead. That currently stands at 19 points after six wins in seven races.

As ever, all eyes will be transfixed on Hamilton tomorrow as he attempts to negotiate his way safely through an ever- strengthening midfield.

Fellow Briton Jenson Button will be part of that pack and predicts Hamilton’s task will be simple. ‘He’s going to finish fourth at worst,’ said Button. ‘He may even do better than that. It’s not exactly a bad weekend considering his team-mate finished fourth at the last race.

‘He’s in a strong position in terms of his car’s performance and he’s very good at finding his way through traffic. I think he’ll get past four cars by Les Combes (turn five).’

In contrast, Button admits his afternoon is likely to be a struggle, despite an upgrade to his McLaren- Honda engine. ‘It will make us go a bit quicker,’ said Button. ‘It should leave us in the position we’ve been in the last couple of races, in the hunt for eighth.’

Just four years ago, Hamilton and Button were fighting each other for race wins as McLaren team-mates. Tomorrow, Button will be powerless to stop the championship leader cruising past him.

It makes you wonder if, in his 17th season, Button’s heart is still in it.

‘Do I enjoy my racing? Yes,’ said Button. ‘My heart is definitely in racing now, 100 per cent. I feel like I’m driving very well, probably the best I have in my career.

‘I think I’m doing a very good job. I don’t think there’s anyone who can do better in this car than me.’

Button says he ‘doesn’t know yet’ whether there will be an 18th campaign in 2017.