Jenson Button hopes to have the Union Flag flying for all the right reasons come the British Grand Prix at the end of next month.
Button is enduring his toughest year since joining McLaren at the start of 2010, with his hopes of winning the Formula One title fading fast given issues with his car.
McLaren are doing all they can to get on top of their troubles, with the team at least managing to get both cars in the points at the last two races in Bahrain and Spain.
Progress, however, is slow, with McLaren already 102 points adrift of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, while Button is 72 down on drivers’ title pace-setter Sebastian Vettel.
At least this weekend’s showpiece race in Monaco represents a more level playing field for McLaren given its tight, twisty, unforgiving nature.
With Canada to follow early next month ahead of his home event at Silverstone, Button is keeping fingers crossed that, by the time the June 30 race comes around, McLaren will be a more challenging force.
With Button eighth and team-mate Sergio Perez ninth nine days ago in Spain, the 33-year-old said: “I noticed in the grandstands there were a lot of rocket red (McLaren) caps and Union Jacks.
“That is great to see and they are all so supportive, but you have to feel for them a little. You don’t really want to look them in the eye because we know we’re not doing as well as we should be doing.
“So I have to say thank you for all their support and let them know we are doing everything we can to get back to the front.
“I’m hopeful we’re going to keep making steps forward every race we go to so, by the time we get to the British Grand Prix, we’re parking some good points. That would be great in front of my home crowd.
“That’s what I’m personally hoping for, although obviously I’d like to get better results before that.”
In Spain, the upgrade package on the McLaren did not provide as much performance as had been hoped.
For Monaco, however, there will be a new front wing that was rushed to the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, but not used for fear of failing FIA tests.
Although conceding “there was no massive step forward”, Button can at least sense the team is moving in the right direction, just not as quickly as he or anybody else would like.
“We’re doing a very good job with what we have, in getting points, and to finish eighth and ninth (in Spain) was not too bad,” added Button.
“We beat a Mercedes, we beat a Force India, so it’s not horrendous. We’re not moving forward quick enough.
“Obviously beating Force India is not what McLaren is all about, but we’re behind them in the championship, so that’s what we have to aim for first.
“At least with the new package we have, the exciting thing is it’s a new platform, very similar to what we had last year, and we can build on that a lot easier because we know what we’re doing.
“It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s still tough, but we’re doing what we can.”