“Our pace was nowhere near what we expected here”, said Button. “But I’m hoping it is a good upgrade, that Fernando is really quick and that he annihilates me all weekend. It’s unusual to say that, but in our situation it’s about getting it on the auto”.
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Since Sochi, the British has been back at the McLaren Technology Centre working hard with his engineers and preparing for the back-to-back races of Austin and Mexico, and hopes the luck carried over from Russian Federation continues at the Circuit of the Americas.
And a new three-time world champion in Lewis Hamilton.
Button is scheduled to have one of the newer engines in his auto for the Mexican Grand Prix.
“Hopefully we get the chance in qualifying and the race to show our potential that I believe is better here than at previous races”.
“As ever in topsy-turvy races such as today’s, Jenson mastered the conditions adroitly, staying out of trouble despite the treacherous conditions and moving calmly through the field, conserving his tyres where necessary, and bagging us a very valuable eight world championship points as a result”.
“It could be tricky”.
“This track has so much elevation, you’re going to get pools of water on it”. The Spaniard told reporters at the U.S. Grand Prix, where he was ninth fastest in a wet first practice on Friday, that McLaren needed to find another two and a half seconds of pace to match Mercedes. His second stop – under the Safety vehicle – consolidated his position; but it was Jenson’s risky call to make a third and final stop, to stem the onset of graining, that shored-up his race.
“Still we need to investigate it to make sure it doesn’t happen again”. Alonso, the double world champion who joined from Ferrari at the end of last season, has suffered frequent auto breakdowns and grid penalties due to the team far exceeding their engine allocation.
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Boullier at least feels a good degree of progress has been made with the new power unit, adding: “With both cars running the same chassis configuration you can compare, look at the data to understand if it’s better. It’s a very big gap”.
