Jenson Button has said that he will not help McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton to win at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday.

Button's chances of winning the driver's championship are all but over. He sits 41 points behind Hamilton and a whopping 88 behind leader Fernando Alonso.

McLaren principal Martin Whitmarsh said recently that Button would have to support Hamilton later in the season, but the driver himself does not think that time has arrived.

"Personally, I think it is a pretty pointless conversation to be having right now," Button said. "Forty points is not a big margin.

"Half the grid is in front of their teammates but their teammates are not going to say they will help.

"We are here to fight, to do the best job we can for ourselves and for the team. It would be a pretty boring championship if only 12 drivers are fighting for victory and the rest are helping them."

The Formula 1 season resumes this weekend after a five-week summer break.

After a bright start, McLaren slumped, although Hamilton did win the last race in Hungary in July, with Button coming second the race before that.

Button continued: "The last two races before the break were very good so [supporting Hamilton] is not the situation.

"We go racing as always and do the best we can."

Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix is on Saturday before Sunday's race.