Australian GP: Mercedes one second clear of rivals - Jenson Button
Jenson Button believes Mercedes is in a league of its own following the first day of practice for the Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix

The Briton said he was surprised at the size of Mercedes' advantage, which he estimates to be around one second per lap over the rest of the field.
And while he downplayed his own team's practice pace, insisting second and fifth in the respective sessions had flattered McLaren, he said he had not anticipated rival outfits like Williams also trailing Mercedes by so much.
"We were two seconds off them [Mercedes] in the test and we're over a second off them [in practice] in the long runs," Button said after FP2.
"I think everyone's about a second off them, they're very quick.
"I don't think our outright pace is as good as it looks in practice but we're OK; our balance still isn't there.
Free practice 1 session report
"We're nowhere near the quickest, [but] it's a little bit surprising that [Mercedes is also] much quicker than everyone else, including the Williams - which looks a bit of a handful to drive in high-speed corners which is a surprise as well."
Button said that Mercedes' speed could also help it conserve fuel during the grand prix, which he feels will be a critical issue in Sunday's race.
"I don't know if other people [are having to] save fuel a lot but it seems we have to in the race," he explained.
"This is a very difficult circuit for fuel saving and using 100kg, so this whole race for us is going to be tricky with how much we have to back off.
"This is probably one of the worst circuits for fuel usage so it's going to be a tough one on Sunday.
"Outright pace is always [desirable], because if you have a quick car you can save fuel more easily - just back off more.
"At the moment we're reasonably reliable, engine's working really well, and our pace is alright.
"We're not as quick as the quickest cars but then we're a lot quicker than the slowest cars, so we're not in too bad a shape."

Previous article
Australian GP: Caterham adamant it will run in final practice
Next article
Australian GP: Grosjean fears weekend a test session for Lotus

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Jenson Button |
Teams | Mercedes |
Author | Sam Tremayne |
Australian GP: Mercedes one second clear of rivals - Jenson Button
Trending
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak