Japanese GP: Jenson Button says victory is possible for McLaren
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Jenson Button is confident he can fight for victory in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix despite starting eighth.
The McLaren driver qualified third behind the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber but has a five-place grid penalty for changing a gearbox.
"If it was a straightforward race, you'd have no chance of victory from eighth," Button said. "But I don't think it's going to be straightforward."
Button said race strategy would be "difficult" because of tyre problems.
"The tyres are difficult for everyone here," Button said.
"They have been difficult all year but especially here with blistering and graining - strategy is going to be important.
"It's going to be a thinking drivers' race and our engineers are very good at thinking on their feet in difficult situations.
"It's not going to be easy but we'll give it everything we've got.
"There will be four cars in front that will be very quick in the race, the two Red Bulls and the two Lotus. They will be tough to beat but we will still go for the win."
Button was 0.451secs slower than Vettel's pole position lap, but he said the pace shown by his team-mate Lewis Hamilton during his race-simulation run in Friday practice suggested the McLaren would be strong in the race.
Button did not do a race-simulation run because a set-up mistake meant he ran out of time.
"I felt really good with the car today," Button said after qualifying, "and I really do feel we'll have a good race.
"You've got to think for the win.
"Lewis's run yesterday was by the far most consistent, the least amount of degradation and blisters, and compared to the Red Bulls it was much, much quicker. It's promising."
Hamilton struggled in qualifying and ended up down in ninth place.
He was hindered by a spin by Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, which meant he had to back off on his final qualifying lap, but Hamilton said a mistake on set-up meant he would not have been able to challenge at the front anyway, although he would have been "fourth or fifth".
"I wasn't quick enough," he said. "Big, big struggle in qualifying. Huge mistake with the set-up I went with but that's motor racing.
"Masses of understeeer, full lock everywhere and it wouldn't go round the corner.
"I'll just have to paddle around with the set-up I have and look after my tyres and see if I can make up some places."
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More drivers need to be as candid as he is. PR drones bore the hell out of me.
You said @94 that "Jenson cannot overtake when it matters and just follows them around hoping they will make a mistake". I disagree and his on track performance proves this and many stats you look at backs it up.
JB is the most consistent, yet unlucky driver since the break.
Dominant in Belgium, out whilst running 2nd in Italy due to mechanical problems, mocked for 2nd in Singapore despite a dodgy gearbox which resulted in a grid penalty, still came 4th despite pit stop troubles & further gear box issues.
Maligned, whilst others are overrated.
@134
"Yet I dare say if that was Lewis chasing Kamui he would have definitely passed him"
Despite LH being overtaken by the other Sauber & being caught again before it spun off and being 20+ secs off his team mate at the finish?
Yep, all points to LH overtaking Kamui.
They are only 20 points behind Mercedes in the constructors!
@125 I didnt imply anything. These are stats from crash.net. However, it puts the lie to JB either not being willing or able to overtake.
@123 nope. Not implying that. Just showing JB can and does overtake.
nuff said'
Why would McLaren want to slow Hamilton down? The only chance they have of taking the WCC is if both drivers get a lot of points from now on.