Motor Sport: Jenson Button insists Honda were right to proclaim themselves genuine challengers this year, even though the season has not lived up to their lofty expectations.
The Englishman was expecting to challenge for victories this season and spelled out that ambition after a string of impressive testing times.
But Renault have caught the opposition cold with their speed this year and Button admits Honda are still some way short of giving the world champions a run for their money.
Despite failing to live up to pre-season hopes, Button is adamant Honda's optimism was genuine, saying: "We were not talking it up. Over the winter we thought we had a very good chance of challenging for wins at every single race we went to.
"We were very truthful, we didn't lie and talk it down and then suddenly have great results like other teams might have done. We were very truthful and we thought we were that quick. We haven't been quick enough to challenge the Renaults and that is not an issue which will change overnight I don't think."
Honda are fourth in the standings, a major improvement on last year, but Button has dreams of much better and he visited their Brackley headquarters last Monday to press for more.
He claims any talk of a Honda crisis is "not right" and revealed last week's meeting helped clear the air after a troubled San Marino Grand Prix, in which he finished fifth despite starting on the front row.
He added: "I do it quite often, every Monday the team chat about what went on at the weekend but not always the drivers. It was useful because it was to put across some negative points and also some very positive points."