McLaren driver Jenson Button claims they have genuine pace – Formula 1 news
The 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has said that McLaren have genuine pace this year and since the team has secured two race victories in a row, they have now proved that they can beat Red Bull Racing team consistently as a result of which their
summer breaks are going to be quite relieving.
“Our race pace was very strong, but I don't think there was much between us, Ferrari and Red Bull,” Button said. “We've won three of the last five races and each of our major rivals has won just one apiece during that time, so we're doing something right.”
However, these two victories did not give McLaren the much-needed boost in terms of statistics as the team is still more than 100 points short of RBR in the constructors’ standings while Lewis Hamilton and Button are also way behind the championship leader
Sebastian Vettel in the drivers’ standings.
Hamilton secured the race win at the German Grand Prix after which, Button won the Hungarian Grand Prix this past weekend. However, Button retired out of the German Grand Prix and Hamilton was unable to win the Hungarian Grand Prix despite the fact that
he led the race for more than 50 laps due to a ‘pointless’ pit decision.
Either way, the team has proved that they have the pace and they are very confident about their run for the rest of the 2011 Formula 1 season.
“To win with Lewis in Germany and me in Hungary proves that McLaren is pushing, developing and challenging the cars around us with genuine pace in the car. I'm 100 points behind Sebastian, so that's going to be challenging, but we like a challenge!” said
Button.
With 8 races left in the season, the only way any other driver can win the 2011 Formula 1 season is that if Vettel retires out of at least 2 races, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Hamilton or even Button might have a chance. Otherwise, the 2011 championship
is pretty much in Vettel’s hands.
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