Jenson Button thinks that second position on the grid will be better than pole – Formula 1 news
McLaren’s Jenson Button is of the opinion that it will be better to qualify second than at pole for the United States Grand Prix this weekend.
“You want to qualify well here because I think people will be trying some unusual things into turn one,” Button said. “We'll all get there and we won't have a clue where the apex is because the only car that will know will be the one on the inside. He's
the only one that's going to see it because the rest will be in a bit of no-man's land. I think P2 is actually better than P1 round here because he's got a little bit of a flatter run before the hill whereas P1 is straight into the hill.”
The Circuit of the Americas is a completely new track built for the United States GP. There is an elevation between the start line and the turn to the first corner that is 40 metres in length. Button also suggested that the elevation will affect the braking
strategy of the drivers. Since the hill starts immediately after the grid, the braking point is going to be different. He pointed out that applying the brake two metres later on a hill is as if you are applying it one metre later while driving over a flat
surface.
He added that he does not know how much the elevation changes will affect the drivers but it is possible that only turn 1 will be problematic. The drivers will not be feeling much change on the rest of the track as by then their speed will have increased
sufficiently.
Button is extremely hopeful that the new track will help F1 make a permanent home in America since the sport has been in and out of the country. The current race is taking place after a gap of five years. He admits that while the previous track for the United
States GP, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was difficult but this purpose built track will help fans understand what a F1 car can accomplish.
Like Button, all other drivers are very excited and in anticipation over how the new track will work out.
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