Jenson Button warns Canadian GP will hurt McLaren's weaknesses

Jenson Button is already preaching caution ahead of a Canadian Grand Prix he feels could underline the 2015 McLaren-Honda Formula 1 car's weaknesses

Jenson Button warns Canadian GP will hurt McLaren's weaknesses

There was relief all round inside the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking when Button secured the team's first points of the season with eighth place in Monaco, with its slow, twisty streets ideal for the MP4-30.

Next up, however, is a run of power tracks, starting with Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and followed by the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone.

Honda chief Yasuhisa Arai has already stated more horsepower is needed for the coming races if McLaren is to maintain its upward progress.

Although naturally happy with the steps taken by McLaren and Honda since a troubled pre-season, Button is also wary of a venue of Montreal's nature striking at the team's Achilles heel.

"In the first race we qualified on the back row, and now we're qualifying much higher," assessed Button, who would have qualified in the top 10 in Monaco but for yellow flags.

"Every race we have gained a couple of places in qualifying, we've got closer and closer, a general step forward we've had every race.

"But I think the next race we won't have a step forward in terms of performance because there are a lot of long straights. It is a circuit that won't suit us well.

"But you never know, we might still get some points there.

"We both enjoy Canada, but it won't be as easy there to score points, and then we're on to Austria where we have some more updates.

"Hopefully we will see better performances more consistently through to the end of the year."

IMPROVEMENT KEEPS SPIRITS UP

Button concedes it is the continual improvement from the team that has kept the spirits high of both himself and team-mate Fernando Alonso over these past few months.

"If you're not at the front fighting for wins, you might as well be where we've been," suggested Button.

"The thing is we've been seeing improvements. It's not like we've been sitting still.

"If you are sitting still and near the back it's bloody tough, but when you're with a new project and things are improving every race it keeps you positive, even if, like Fernando and myself, you've been at the front for many years.

"And when I talk about improving I don't just mean laptimes, I mean with the way we work, the understanding between McLaren and Honda, the progress in many different areas.

"All good things that are worth fighting for take time, a lot of effort, energy and mental strength."

shares
comments

What Monaco can teach Azerbaijan

Williams F1 team hopes for Austrian GP upgrade turning point

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

How Vasseur has begun Ferrari’s mission to keep Leclerc on side

How Vasseur has begun Ferrari’s mission to keep Leclerc on side

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How Vasseur has begun Ferrari’s mission to keep Leclerc on side How Vasseur has begun Ferrari’s mission to keep Leclerc on side

Why Red Bull’s biggest F1 adversary is now itself

Why Red Bull’s biggest F1 adversary is now itself

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Jonathan Noble

Why Red Bull’s biggest F1 adversary is now itself Why Red Bull’s biggest F1 adversary is now itself

How "only tough" Tost's public lack of trust could hurt AlphaTauri

How "only tough" Tost's public lack of trust could hurt AlphaTauri

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How "only tough" Tost's public lack of trust could hurt AlphaTauri How "only tough" Tost's public lack of trust could hurt AlphaTauri

What Perez's Jeddah joy means for F1’s 2023 hopes for a real title fight

What Perez's Jeddah joy means for F1’s 2023 hopes for a real title fight

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

What Perez's Jeddah joy means for F1’s 2023 hopes for a real title fight What Perez's Jeddah joy means for F1’s 2023 hopes for a real title fight

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay

How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay

The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off

The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
GP Racing

The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off