Button to clear the air with Coulthard
Jenson Button has vowed to clear the air with David Coulthard in the wake of the friction that has developed between the duo since their accident in Bahrain.
Immediately after the race, Button pinned the blame on his friend, only to offer a different version of events when he later called.
Coulthard has since conceded to being “surprised and disappointed” by Button’s comments, and that he is growing “weary” over other drivers who do not take responsibility for their actions.
The Scot added: “The thing that’s most disappointing is when I screw up I admit my mistake, but when other people cause an accident with me, they seem not to.
“I feel it’s a bit unfair. I’m made out to be some sort of crasher when I’ve done 230-plus grands prix and generally kept my nose pretty clean.”
Button, though, is determined to smooth the waters with Coulthard as he said: “I’ll talk to him and clear the air.
“I didn’t expect to see that (his comments) in the paper, but it is his opinion and fair enough, I’ve no issue with that.
“But then when he read my views in the media, it probably came across different to my views to him.
“When you get out of the car you are a little more frustrated and the adrenaline is pumping.
“But the basic views were the same – he went out and came back to block when I didn’t expect him to.
“It’s in the past now. We can get over something like that. We’ve been racing for years together.”
Coulthard was also involved in a similar incident with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the season-opening race in Australia.
On that occasion Massa refused to concede he had done anything wrong, clearly indicating the fault lay with Coulthard, and hence the reference to the fact he has become ’a crasher’.
Button is adamant Coulthard is anything but, adding: “It’s a pity it has been looked upon DC is a crasher because he is not. That is definitely wrong.
“The incident we had certainly does not show him up as a crasher. It was just one of those things, it’s happened so let’s put it behind us and carry on.”
Button believes the fact he and Coulthard were still racing one another even though they were struggling at the back of the field at the time in Bahrain highlights their drive and determination.
“The one positive is that I guess it shows just how passionate we both are because we were fighting over 17th and 18th place,” added Button.
