SEPANG, Malaysia - Briton Jenson Button launched a scathing attack on his BAR-Honda team on Sunday after both their cars failed to finish the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The British outfit finished runners-up to world champions Ferrari last year but have failed to shine this year and have now failed to get a car to the finish in the first two races.
Button went out of the event after two laps when his engine failed and his team-mate Anthony Davidson, replacing ill Japanese driver Takuma Sato, also parked up with a smoking engine on the same lap.
"Compared to last year we have made a huge step back in every area it looks like at the moment. It is not good enough. Engineering an engine to do three laps is not hard," Button said.
"We are quick, that's the annoying thing, we had the pace and we had a good strategy. This has to change and the thing is I know it is not going to change soon. I am very angry ... but there you go."
The double failure was ironic after the team courted controversy by choosing to retire both cars from the season-opening race in Australia so they could change their engines for this weekend's event.
This year engines must last for two full races but BAR were able to put fresh units in both their cars in anticipation of a tough gruelling race in 34-degree Celsius temperatures at Sepang.
The move led to the FIA clarifying the retirement rule for the remaining races but failed to help BAR and they will now have to change both engines again for what will be another difficult race in Bahrain in two weeks.
Test driver Davidson, whose race debut for the team was much shorter than anticipated, said: "It's a shame for the team but that is what these new regulations are for. It is a race of attrition.
"My first race for BAR-Honda was not exactly what I wanted but while it lasted it was fun. But I don't get angry. I waved my arm a bit aggressively, but that is about as far as I go."
03/20/2005 12:03 GMT