Jenson Button has insisted it would be bad for Formula One if world championship rival Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren team were banned from the sport over 'Liargate'.

Ahead of the opening practice session for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, Button spoke up for Hamilton despite the potential threat his fellow Briton poses to his own title hopes.

Next Wednesday, McLaren appear before the World Motor Sport Council in Paris to answer charges of lying and cheating in an attempt to deprive Toyota's Jarno Trulli of third place in the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia.

It is understood McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh may already have written to the FIA admitting bringing Formula One into disrepute and offering a full apology.

Along with Ron Dennis's decision last week to severe his links with the team, that may placate the more aggressive forces within motor-racing's governing body.

But it is still possible that McLaren, and Hamilton, could be banned from the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix.

Button, who takes a six-point lead over Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello into the Bahrain race, has experience of such a draconian punishment.

In 2005 his BAR team, which later became Honda and now Brawn GP, was banned from Spain and Monaco for running an underweight car at San Marino that season.

Button maintained he does not want McLaren to be prevented from racing. He said: "It was disappointing for us as well but this is a very different situation.

"The publicity around it has been unbelievable, although in a way you would expect it as Lewis was world champion last year. So yes, it would be disappointing if they weren't in the sport any more and I think everybody would agree."

Although McLaren have had a tough start to the season, at least they have got some points on the board, unlike Ferrari.

And Kimi Raikkonen fears he will again have to make the best of a bad job this weekend as he is not anticipating a Ferrari revival just yet.

If one is on the cards, it may realistically have to wait until Barcelona as the team are set to unveil a major upgrade on their woefully-performing car for the Spanish Grand Prix on 10 May.

For now, there is the distinct possibility that for the first time in their history, Ferrari will emerge from the first four races of the season without scoring.

It is all a far cry to just 19 months ago when Raikkonen was crowned world champion.

"Things change quickly in Formula One, we know that," said the Finn. "It hasn't been the start to the season we were looking for as a team. It's not what we wanted, nor what I wanted.

"Unfortunately, we just don't have the speed in the car right now, so we just need to make the best of what we have here and hopefully we can get back to where we should be.

"We know we can do it, but it takes a while. That's unfortunately the situation we are in."

Because everyone within the team appreciates the circumstances, Raikkonen maintains he is off the hook as far as delivering is concerned.

"For sure, I want to score points, but I don't feel any pressure," he said.