Jenson Button was unfortunate with the timing of the final virtual safety car during the Malaysian Grand Prix as he felt other drivers were able to get the jump on him.
The McLaren-Honda star was on a two-stop strategy but other drivers on three-stop strategies were able to gain time on the Briton with consigned Button to ninth place, two places behind team-mate Fernando Alonso who had started at the back of the field.
Button felt the two stop strategy would have worked for him had it not been for the virtual safety car, which was to retrieve the retired car of Lewis Hamilton from turn one.
“My race wasn’t too bad – but I got so unlucky with the Virtual Safety Car,” said Button. “The cars behind me were on a three-stop and I was on a two-stopper – then, three laps after I pitted, there was a Virtual Safety Car, which meant they were all able to gain 15 seconds on me for free.
“It’s a shame I missed it – but luck has not been on my side for these last few races. The two-stopper was the better strategy today, but it’s too difficult to make work when there’s a VSC; I was looking good for seventh up until that point.
“Hopefully I’ll have a bit more luck in the last five races.”
