Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

The F1 drivers to take on the Nurburgring 24 Hours before Verstappen

NLS
The F1 drivers to take on the Nurburgring 24 Hours before Verstappen

Tin-top thrills among the Mondello Park Historic Festival highlights

National
Tin-top thrills among the Mondello Park Historic Festival highlights

How Sutton shone while Ingram’s luck deserted him at Brands Hatch

Feature
BTCC
Brands Hatch (Indy Circuit)
How Sutton shone while Ingram’s luck deserted him at Brands Hatch

Behind the debate over F1's future engines is a battle for control

Formula 1
Behind the debate over F1's future engines is a battle for control

The British GT star who is running ultramarathons to rounds for charity

British GT
The British GT star who is running ultramarathons to rounds for charity

Edmundson stars in Minis as the BTCC supports entertain at Brands Hatch

National
Edmundson stars in Minis as the BTCC supports entertain at Brands Hatch

How a rules rumbling and full-course caution call added edge to the IndyCar title fight

Feature
IndyCar
Indianapolis Road Course
How a rules rumbling and full-course caution call added edge to the IndyCar title fight

Red Bull aims to hit F1 weight limit by Austrian GP

Formula 1
Miami GP
Red Bull aims to hit F1 weight limit by Austrian GP

McLaren has no concerns over Button's gearbox for Korean GP

Jenson Button has no risk of a gearbox penalty in this weekend's Korean Grand Prix - even if a problem that emerged in Japan forces another change

Button complained over the team radio during the Suzuka race about a gearbox problem, although the issue seemed to clear itself up in the closing stages.

Having already been handed a five-place grid penalty in Japan because of a change there, the matter was not ideal - but McLaren has no cause for concern.

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said initial analysis of the gearbox problem pointed towards a sensor problem rather than a total failure.

"At the first stop you may have noticed a brake fire on the rear right, so it was really, really hot," he explained.

"That was defaulting some of the sensors at the rear wheels so, after that stop, we started to have that problem.

"I think they cooled down a bit after a few laps and then unfortunately it seemed to come back - and they were not the words that you wanted to hear on the radio.

"After the second stop, I thought we were about to creep into the same area but he wasn't in traffic at the second stop and it managed to cool down.

"It was a problem with the smooth shifting of the gears but probably only as a consequence of the sensors being overheated on the right rear hub."

The team is set to conduct further analysis of the gearbox before Korea, but even if a new unit is needed there is no possibility of Button facing a penalty.

The current regulations state that if a driver uses a replacement gearbox at a race - as Button did in Japan - then the team may elect to begin its five-race sequence at the following event.

Previous article Luca di Montezemolo calls for Ferrari to hold its nerve
Next article Mark Hughes: Alonso's fail is Vettel's gain

Top Comments

Latest news