Jenson Button had a tough Japanese Grand Prix after he only climbed four places to see the chequered flag in eighteenth.
The Suzuka International Racing Course counts as a second home to McLaren-Honda, as their power unit supplier Honda are an Japanese company. With the team electing to change his power unit components before the race he incurred a penalty, leading to Button starting the Grand Prix in twenty-second.
With this position his potential was limited, with Manor Racing starting on the Option tyre and Button on the hardest compound, it was hard for him to make a move past them. Even with his finish, Button had some fun out on track with a few little battles with other drivers, but in the end he was still a long way behind the points-scorers.
“I made a poor start, the [power unit] components in the back of the car were all-new,” said Button. “So I got massive wheelspin and was therefore somewhat left behind on the start-line.
“Then it was really difficult to get past the Manors, they’d started the race on the Option tyre, and I was on the Back-Up, so it was hard to make a move stick. I eventually got past them though and, despite racing with the backmarkers, I still had some fun out there, a few little battles, but we were a long way behind the points-scorers.
“It’s been a very tough weekend, it’s a shame that Suzuka is our bogey track because it’s our second home. Still, we have to take the rough with the smooth: we haven’t been quick here, but we hope to be quicker at the next race.”
