Abu Dhabi GP: Button won't try new McLaren wing after 'messy' start

His team-mate Kevin Magnussen ran the upgrade, which was the first major development introduced under the guidance of ex-Red Bull aero man Peter Prodromou, in Yas Marina practice thanks to McLaren's policy of alternating which driver gets new parts first.

Button missed most of practice one due to a suspension problem, and then only joined practice two for the final 35 minutes when a hydraulic issue was found during reassembly.

Attention inside the cockpit was also required after he reported a brake pedal glitch.

He said that meant there would be no point trying the wing himself on Saturday as he would have no chance to evaluate it properly.

"The problem is you have to bolt the parts onto the car and that takes hours to do so for me to do that tomorrow is impossible," said Button.

"If it doesn't work, you can't take those bits off so we won't be going in that direction.

"The session tomorrow is pretty pointless because it's so hot."

Button thinks long-run pace is the main area where he will be lacking.

"It's been a pretty messy day and obviously because of all the work that's been going on, the car's not set down as we expected," he said.

"I think over one lap, the car isn't too bad but looking at the lap times over the longer runs, it's looking tricky."

Asked if there were any positives he could take from his day, Button replied: "There's a good selection of ice-creams and I liked my coffees so that's a positive I guess.

"In the car it was very difficult."

McLaren has yet to confirm whether Magnussen will continue using the new wing for qualifying and the race.

"It's a different philosophy and I think it's positive for the future," said the Dane, who was third quickest in practice two.

NO PENALTY OVER VETTEL INCIDENT

Magnussen was summoned to see the stewards over a practice one incident in which he made light contact with Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull as it passed him into Turn 8 while on a quicker lap.

After examining video evidence, the officials put the clash down to a misunderstanding.

"The stewards accepted the explanation of the driver, that there was a misunderstanding between the two drivers and therefore no further action was warranted on this occasion," said an FIA statement.

Vettel, however, was punished over a separate matter as he received two fines totalling €900 for a pair of pitlane speed infractions.