Jenson Button was expecting a title fight between McLaren and Lotus F1 in 2012 – Formula 1 news
McLaren’s Jenson Button has stated that he was expecting a championship fight between McLaren and Lotus F1 during the 2012 F1 season.
“After five races I thought that we would win the championship,” said Button. “We seemed very competitive, and I thought Lotus were going to be extremely good this year. They were consistent but they didn't have the outright pace. Five races in I wouldn't
have said that the Red Bulls would win the championship this year.”
He said that when you have lost the title, you always think that you are not going to win and each F1 team is fighting for the same title but only one team can win it. He appreciated Red Bull Racing for winning the constructors’ title saying that they did
a good job. About McLaren’s performance, he said that they did a good effort but it was not enough. He told that in the end F1 is a competitive sport so they should not be disappointed with their way of racing in 2012; it was just not enough to win the title.
Button added that McLaren improved their pace following the German GP but Red Bull was quicker, consistent and in more reliable form.
McLaren kept a good pace throughout the season and immensely improved its qualifying pace towards the end of the season. However, the team’s reliability issues kept them away from moving to the top. Lewis Hamilton, who has now moved to Mercedes AMG, had
to retire several times; even from pole sometimes. McLaren also lost their second position to Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.
On the other hand, Lotus F1 had a consistent performance as Kimi Raikkonen returned to F1 after two years and scored in all the races but one. Raikkonen remained closest to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel with his third place in
the drivers’ championship. McLaren and Lotus F1 finished third and fourth respectively at the end of the season.
Button will be staying at McLaren for the upcoming season with new teammate Sergio Perez who has moved to the team from Sauber F1.
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