Jenson Button helped top off McLaren’s best weekends since Hungary last year by finishing tenth at the Russian Grand Prix.
This is McLaren’s second double points finish after they reestablished their working relationship with Honda. Button was confident that he could have gotten his McLaren into Q3 on Saturday and was hindered at the beginning of the race with the first corner incidents.
“As the pack dived into Turn 2, I had to back off because it was mayhem,” he said.
“The bollard at Turn 2 is the problem at the start because people are trying to fight through Turns 2 and 3. I think that needs some looking at.”
Despite having a poor start, Button had the opportunity to show off the pace of the car. Like his teammate, Fernando Alonso, he was keen to make it clear McLaren had progressed from its torrid previous season.
“From there [Turn 2], I was disadvantaged,” Button explained.
“But the pace was in the car. After that, it was just a case of fighting my way back – which I really enjoyed. It’s difficult to overtake around here, but I was able to make a few moves and enjoy myself.
“To get both cars home in the points – and at a track which we didn’t feel would really suit our package – is a fantastic result for the whole team.”
However, unlike his teammate, he was less confident about the prospect of the team consistently getting points finishes for the rest of the season.
“I think the next race in Barcelona will be reasonably difficult for us, but there’s no reason not to look forward to targeting another points haul in Monaco.”
