McLaren was hoping to use one engine in FP1 before saving it for the final two rounds and the second for the remainder of the weekend, but problems with both power units means it is now just focusing on getting ready for Sunday’s race. “Let’s say the targets we have are for the beginning of the season but it’s very hard to match and there are a lot of things to homologate on the engine to make sure we can get there”. But he eventually hit the track, completing 25 laps and setting the ninth fastest time, 1.578 seconds adrift of pacesetter Nico Rosberg, and one place behind team-mate Fernando Alonso.
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“It’s not a great way to start the weekend”, said Button.
“So I expect it’s going to be more in the course of the season”.
“We have [tactical] engine penalties here because we thought it would be a really tough race for us – and it still will be”. But slightly more positive.
That means Button will start from the back of the grid.
“It’s louder”, he said.
“Quick in a straightline, not a lot of air into the brake ducts, so there are a lot of unknowns for everyone here. But it’s progress and at the moment it’s still running reliably, which is good”.
Alonso will suffer a total grid penalty of 15 places, 10 for the new engine and five for a replacement gearbox – and Button 20, with each of the two engines costing him 10 places.
“As long as we’re on top of that, we might be OK in the race, but in terms of pace it’s going to be tricky for us here”.
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“The altitude is easily the highest we have to deal with at any Grand Prix on the calendar, so that in itself will be something new for all the teams to work with”, commented Button.
