Jenson defends struggling Barrichello.

Jenson Button admits that he has been surprised by the struggles of Honda team-mate Rubens Barrichello to get onto the pace this season, but says that the Brazilian has go through the worst of it.

Barrichello qualified third in the last race at Imola, a quarter of a second behind Button, but the race proved that he was carrying a lap less of fuel. He faded during the race with brake problems, and did not make the points. In an effort to help him the team has been running different brake set-ups on the two cars.

"He's found it tough this season, and it has surprised me that he's found it so tough," said Jenson. "But people act differently when they come to a new team. He's got a lot of experience - if I came here with that much experience I would work differently and we would go into it in a different way, but he's definitely there now, he is on the pace now.

"He's been working very, very hard with the team to improve in areas where he needs to improve, and in Imola he was quick in practice and qualifying. He's definitely solved his issues from before."

Barrichello won the European GP in 2002, after former Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher sat dutifully behind him.