Russian GP: Jenson Button says McLaren is taking risks ahead of 2016
Jenson Button says qualifying in 13th place for the Russian Grand Prix was unexpected, as McLaren 'takes risks' with its Formula 1 car with a view towards 2016
Button progressed to Q2 for just the fourth time this F1 season at Sochi, and then out-qualified the Mercedes-powered Lotus of Pastor Maldonado and Williams of Felipe Massa.
While Button is braced for a tough race given Honda's energy deployment limitations, the fact the qualifying performance came amid experimentation for the future was even more encouraging.
"We're running the car a little bit different to normal here, because there's a lot of work going into next year, so that's promising," he said.
"You take more risks with the car when you know you're not really going for points.
"You try different things and that's what we're doing this weekend, and what we'll be doing for the rest of the year.
"We're trying things all of the time, we knew this circuit would be tough so we tried different things with the set-up and it looks like they're working."
Noting that he escaped Q1 based on "actual speed, rather than any issues people had", the 2009 world champion declared it is his best qualifying session of the season, at a circuit McLaren-Honda expected to struggle.
"In Q1 I was only one-and-a-half tenths off 10th place, which is surprising," he said.
"Q2 was a little bit more normal for us, about four or five tenths off of P10.
"I couldn't get any grip there at the end on new tyres, I think it was the same for everyone.
"But P13 in both sessions, I don't think it's too bad for us at the moment.
"On a circuit where power is very important, it's better than I expected. We did a good job."
ALONSO ALSO LOOKING TOWARDS FUTURE
While Fernando Alonso narrowly missed out on joining Button in Q2, he was content with the outcome, given he would have started last anyway based on a 25-place grid penalty.
Like Button's, his MP4-30 is running parts aimed at 2016 and beyond, and his focus turned to more testing during Sunday's race.
"The race is important for us," he said. "We didn't have any clear target in qualifying because we are starting last.
"We have some experimental parts on the car for next year, projects, so we need to get some information about those."
Sebastian Vettel shocked by Carlos Sainz's Russian GP F1 crash
Russian Grand Prix FIA qualifying press conference transcript
Horner admits Red Bull’s real RB19 will be ‘somewhat different’
Red Bull boss Christian Horner says the real RB19 that will appear in Formula 1 testing in Bahrain later this month will be ‘somewhat different'.
Horner hints at closer links between Mercedes and Williams F1 teams
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has hinted that there could be a closer relationship between the Mercedes and Williams Formula 1 teams in the wake of James Vowles’s move.
Ford remains committed to WRC amid F1 return
Ford has stated that it remains committed to its programme in the World Rally Championship following confirmation of its return to Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2026.
Dixon: Ganassi found two "big things" to improve IndyCar form
Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon says Chip Ganassi Racing has focused on improving its road course form after inconsistencies last season, and believes there has been breakthroughs for 2023.
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
How do the best races of F1 2022 stack up to 2021?
OPINION: A system to score all the grands prix from the past two seasons produces some interesting results and sets a standard that 2023 should surely exceed
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return
He has more starts without a podium than anyone else in Formula 1 world championship history, but Nico Hulkenberg is back for one more shot with Haas. After spending three years on the sidelines, the revitalised German is aiming to prove to his new team what the F1 grid has been missing
The potential-laden F1 car that Ferrari neglected
The late Mauro Forghieri played a key role in Ferrari’s mid-1960s turnaround, says STUART CODLING, and his pretty, intricate 1512 was among the most evocative cars of the 1.5-litre era. But a victim of priorities as Formula 1 was deemed less lucrative than success in sportscars, its true potential was never seen in period
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.