Button: “The knee injury won't be a problem for Silverstone”

Jenson Button will be fully fit for next weekend's British Grand Prix, despite a minor jet-ski injury forcing him to abandon his plan to take a 1 F2008 McLaren to the Goodwood Festival yesterday.

The English driver banged his knee while filming with the BBC in London earlier this week, and it was decided it would be best not to drive the F1 car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as originally planned.

While this change of plans has raised questions about his suitability for his home race at Silverstone, the driver and team insist that his failure to participate in the Goodwood event in an F1 car is purely precautionary.

A McLaren spokesperson told Autosport: “Jenson drove an MP4-12C, a road-going McLaren and a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 at Goodwood yesterday.”

“He did not drive a McLaren Formula 1, for purely precautionary reasons, in order to protect a small bump he received on his left knee during a jet ski event in London last week. But he's not limping, and he'll be in great shape for Silverstone, as usual.”

The 2009 world champion downplayed the issue during an interview with Festival of Speed ​​Radio during the event.

“I had a bit of pain so we preferred not to push, I want to relax ahead of Silverstone for the Grand Prix and that's the only reason,” he said. “It's all good, but it's also a lot of fun to drive this [MP4-12C], because you can't go fast in an F1 car for the hills, it's probably the first time I've driven fast here.”

Button will now head to Silverstone for the British GP and is currently Sebastian Vettel's closest challenger in the championship - although he is 77 points adrift of the Red Bull Racing driver.