The teams that have struggled in the first four races will use the break to look toward the next 13 races, thankful the series still has a long way to go.

Button recorded his third win in four starts with a victory at Bahrain on Sunday, giving the Brawn GP driver a 12-point lead atop the standings.

The Englishman used what he acknowledged was the 'finest first lap of my career' to win in Bahrain, yet also recognized that the advantage the Brawn cars enjoyed in the first race in Australia has gradually been eroded in Malaysia, China and in the Gulf.

Indeed, had the slower but hard-to-pass Lewis Hamilton not stood between Button and Bahrain runner-up Sebastian Vettel for the opening 13 laps on Sunday, Vettel's Red Bull would have had the pace to overhaul his Brawn rival.

Button's 12-point lead would normally be a considerable buffer after four races, but the F1 circus that is preparing to tackle a long European campaign starting on May 10 in Spain has been anything but ordinary this season.

Just about all the teams in the field are expecting to make significant strides in refining the aerodynamics of their cars before hitting the track in Barcelona.

Brawn will have its own upgrade to the so-called diffuser that creates downforce, and Button will be hoping that it at least keeps him on an even footing with Red Bull and Toyota, allowing his points lead to stand up rather than be gobbled up. -- AP