In an interview with the media today, McLaren driver Jenson Button is confident McLaren are on an “upward curve” despite having a difficult Sunday last time out in Singapore.
The McLaren team scored just one World Championship point at the night race in Singapore as Kevin Magnussen brought his MP4-29 home in tenth place. Button retired with an engine issue. That meant McLaren were outscored by Force India and dropped back down to sixth in the Championship.
In his interview with the media today, Button believes the team can bounce back this weekend in Japan. Button stated the following:-
‘Despite not getting to the finish in Singapore, we’re definitely on an upward curve in terms of developing the car. Suzuka will be a tricky one for us, but I’m still really looking forward to it. It’s also one of the best circuits we come to; a real challenge and incredibly unforgiving, which makes it all the more rewarding when you get it right.
‘For me the Esses are the best section of corners in the world – totally unique to Suzuka, which makes racing here so exciting. Being such a tricky, high-speed track you need good downforce, rhythm and total focus to get the most out of a lap.’
It would seem that despite their performance in Singapore, Button is confident that the McLaren are making steps forward in improving the car and they must if they want to finish ahead of Force India in the Constructors. But I would have to agree with Button that Suzuka will be a tricky race for them but is looking forward to the challenge that it presents them with.
As Button says, the characteristics of the Suzuka track are challenging and rewarding when you get it right but are also unforgiving if you make a mistake too. I think many pundits and fans would agree with Button and love the circuit. With sections such as the Esses as Button mentions in his interview alongside corners such as 130R, it is really awesome to watch Formula One cars in anger at this fabulous circuit in Japan and is certainly one of the fans’ favourites of the year.
Further on in his interview, Button considers the race to be a home event as the 2009 World Champion’s fiancée Jessica hails for Japan. Button added the following:-
‘Coming to Suzuka feels like a second home race for me. Japan is such a special place and my win here in 2011 really stands out as a personal highlight. The fans there really set it apart and there’s an incredible atmosphere about the whole place all weekend.’
As Button says himself, Suzuka is his second home with his fiancée and also with his win at the circuit in 2011 under exceptional circumstances going on within the country at the time. But his win in 2011 was one of his greatest wins of his career and it would have certainly helped with the fans who turned up to the race and also provided him with a great atmosphere as they always do.
But overall, I really hope that Button is correct and that McLaren are making steps to improving their car ahead of Suzuka this weekend. Their performance at Singapore was disappointing but it is clear that even though Button feels it will be a tricky race for them, they have got to perform if they want to regain fifth place back off Force India in the Constructors.
With Button looking forward to the challenge that Suzuka presents, all he can do is try and extract the pace and performance that McLaren need to perform on the circuit and achieve some strong points this weekend. There is no question that the support that Button will receive from the fans will boost his motivation throughout the weekend and will also be pushing on the track too.
But McLaren have simply have got to perform this weekend, take the fight to the Force India team on the track and regain fifth place back in the Constructors Championship. The time is now for McLaren to push with everything they have before it is too late.
