Jenson Button has admitted that he needs to get his McLaren to the front of the grid in Canada on Sunday to keep alive his Formula 1 title challenge.

Button is a worrying 31 points off pacesetter Fernando Alonso in the most competitive drivers' championship in living memory.

For the first time in F1 history the first six races have been won by six different drivers. Despite taking the opening Grand Prix in Australia two recent retirements have left Button off the pace, a position he is keen to address this weekend.

Button said: "In the last few races, I've retired twice and scored two points in the other race. They haven't been my finest weekends. It just hasn't gone my way, or the team's way, in the last few races, but that will turn round and we will be back scoring good points.

"To be honest, I purposefully haven't looked at the points for the last few races but I don't think anyone is streaking away in the championship just yet - as we've seen, it's been a very mixed bag this year.

"So I need to score some good points this weekend to get it back on track."

Button will begin his quest to climb back up the standings in Canada with the opening practice session later today.