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Jenson Button's McLaren fastest on day one of Jerez testing

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments224

Jenson Button enjoying team leader status at McLaren

McLaren's Jenson Button set the fastest time of the first day's pre-season testing after an early failure.

Button missed five hours' running with a fuel-pump problem before going nearly a second clear of his closest pursuer, Mark Webber's Red Bull.

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg managed 11 laps before suffering a wiring-loom problem, which needed to be modified overnight.

Max Chilton crashed following suspension failure in his Marussia.

The 21-year-old Englishman was unhurt after losing control during the afternoon at the end of the back straight. The team will do no further running until they have diagnosed the cause of the problem.

"This was the first pushing session of the day. We did one good lap and the car felt really nice and then coming down the back straight I was just about to brake and something gave way," said Chilton.

"I couldn't control it, I tried but I couldn't. It's unfortunate but I think the team know the issue and we should be back on the track tomorrow afternoon."

Despite McLaren's early problem, Button ended the day 0.848secs clear of Webber, who was less than 0.1secs ahead of Lotus's Romain Grosjean.

Force India's Paul di Resta was fourth quickest, ahead of the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Rosberg.

Although headline times in testing are effectively meaningless as it is impossible to know the configuration in which the car is running, the McLaren's early pace will be encouraging for Button.

But the team will be concerned by the failure, which was in a part made by engine manufacturer Mercedes that has been modified over the winter in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the failure that caused Lewis Hamilton's retirement from the lead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

McLaren effectively lost the championship last season because of a series of reliability problems.

Button admitted the problem was "not ideal" but said he was encouraged by the feeling of the car.

"It's a nice starting point. Nothing stands out as a big issue, but lap times mean nothing right now," he said.

Massa described Button's pace-setting lap as "an incredible time" but indicated he felt he could have comfortably matched anyone else's laps if necessary.

Webber said the Red Bull "feels pretty good, so I'm happy".

Mercedes, meanwhile, are desperately trying to make up ground on the front-runners after ending last season struggling even to score points.

Rosberg's car briefly caught fire when the wiring loom failed and after investigating the problem the team realised they needed to stop running for the day.

New signing Hamilton is scheduled to have his first run in the car on Wednesday.

Rosberg said he was encouraged by his first proper run in the car, however brief.

"Very good, very positive," he said. "I can't say if it was quick or not, but feeling-wise I was comfortable. I could push, the balance was OK and it was very enjoyable to drive.

"I can guarantee you it will be a big step forward, but everybody else is also moving forward. We are hoping that we have closed the gap."

Williams's Pastor Maldonado - the only driver in a 2012 car, albeit with extensive 2013 parts on it - was ninth, ahead of Caterham novice Giedo van der Garde and Chilton.

FIRST PRE-SEASON TEST, DAY ONE, JEREZ, SPAIN, FASTEST TIMES

1. Jenson Button (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:18.861

2. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:19.709

3. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Lotus-Renault 1:19.796

4. Paul di Resta (GB) Force India-Mercedes 1:20.343

5. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:20.401

6. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:20.536

7. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 1:20.699

8. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes 1:20.846

9. Pastor Maldonado* (Ven) Williams-Renault 1:20.864

10. Giedo van der Garde (Ned) Caterham-Renault 1:21.915

11 Max Chilton (GB) Marussia-Cosworth 1:24.176

* = 2012 car

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224 comments

  • Comment posted by Jamie1989, at 18:48 5 Feb 2013

    I don't really understand why the Hamilton and Button fan boys have to keep arguing with each other. Britain is lucky to have these two fantastic drivers on the grid. Button may not have the raw pace of Hamilton but on his day he is unbeatable - just see the Australian GP last year. If Mclaren can give him a quick car and get it working to his liking, he'll be in contention for the championship.

  • Comment posted by D1679520115942, at 19:07 5 Feb 2013

    Good news for Mclaren, however practice won't give you a proper answer to who is actually quickest, and we won't know the answer to that until the first GP.

    Hopefully this is a good sign of things to come from Mclaren though, I hope the Force India does well this year as well would be nice to see Paul perhaps get on the podium.

    Can't wait until the first race now, i've missed F1 over the winter

  • Comment posted by User0951217961, at 10:46 6 Feb 2013

    @156.jim crint

    Back in ya box boy.
    It was rear brake failure that caused the crash.

  • Comment posted by jaydrawmer, at 19:18 5 Feb 2013

    So because Button won his title with a better car at the start of his title winning season, he's not a true champion - yet Vettel drives a better car and he's a true champion?

    Both justified champions to me.

    I just don't get the general public when it comes to British sportsmen (it seems our sportswomen are immune to this scrutiny).

    Yes, these results are meaningless but lets not bash Button.

  • Comment posted by D1679500164932, at 19:01 5 Feb 2013

    I like both British drivers and on talent alone, I would lean towards Lewis but seen as though Jenson is a top bloke, great driver and is with my favourite team, I'll be cheering him a little bit more than Lewis. Having said that, I really hope Lewis can with a race or two, that would be great.

  • Comment posted by SixFootFive, at 19:55 5 Feb 2013

    As most people have said, it's way too early to draw any conclusions just yet, but this is very encouraging for McLaren. Button had the fastest single lap and (I think) the fastest average lap time.

    P.S. Loving how the Button bashers instantly start throwing the abuse around again cos of this. It's kind of funny watching the reaction from their obscenely large egos taking a battering like that.

  • Comment posted by User0951217961, at 17:35 5 Feb 2013

    @3

    Didn't Merc top the times at last seasons first test? That ended well.

    Save ya money for now son.

    As much as I'd love for McLaren to pick up both titles, another fuel pump failure doesn't bode well. That should've been fixed last season.

  • Comment posted by Marantz, at 14:03 6 Feb 2013

    Whitmarsh on Button:

    "JB...is in absolutely great form at the moment"

    He is!? After one ok test time delivered on soft tyres!? MW was on mediums, which makes me dread what SV will do on softs.

    JB's form at the end of last season was unremarkable - mainly 4ths and 5ths. Whereas his ex-teammate, was on course to win the last three races of the season...

    So much hot air surrounding JB...

  • Comment posted by SinophilinSpain, at 11:16 6 Feb 2013

    jim crint.
    If you had ever done any competitive driving, which you obviously have not, then you would know that there are times, such as Lewis´s brake failure, when you are little more than a passenger. The fact that he managed to slow, and limit the damage,without rear brakes, is testament to his skill. The majority of the other drivers would have ended up in a more damaging crash.

  • Comment posted by Edd Silver, at 11:09 6 Feb 2013

    Brawn has never failed to produce, new team structure, I'm betting Merc/Ham/Ros will be right up there despite an 'eventful' start to testing. Macl/But/Per, good show, should be spicy. RB/Vet/Web - can't see them falling over, they seem to be increasing their advantages year on year and always come up with a surprising new angle that sideswipes the field. Suzy Perry!? didn't see that one coming!

  • Comment posted by User0496541479, at 17:53 5 Feb 2013

    @FelipeinSpain- Obviously an Idiot, who can't twig onto Sarcasm..Lol

  • Comment posted by DaTroothurtzz, at 14:08 6 Feb 2013

    Remakable of how Hamiltons time after only 15 mins was only 6 hundreths of a secon slower than Buttons benchmark yesterday and is also second on that days timesheet!
    Not only that he has managed to beat Perez time so far, wow !
    Ross Brawn said they have a Brand new front wing for this car , I cant wait untill Aus when it is fitted that car is fast!! I would be worried if I were McLaren !!!

  • Comment posted by mickemoomoo, at 17:31 5 Feb 2013

    McLaren reliability problems on day 1 outweigh the positive of a quick time.

  • Comment posted by User0696175925, at 20:08 5 Feb 2013

    @55. FelipeinSpain

    What decrying is that then? Yes he criticised the Twitter telemetry fiasco, as did the whole McLaren team, and rightly so. Otherwise I am at a loss as to what you are describing.

  • Comment posted by DaveAngel, at 07:46 6 Feb 2013

    Interesting that people are saying LH is at Merc purely for money. I remember years ago, when a certain M Scumacher went to a struggling Ferrari that eyebrows were raised as to his intentions. The rest is history. I'm not LH's biggest fan but I think we need to give him a chance before questioning his motives.

  • Comment posted by DaTroothurtzz, at 14:18 6 Feb 2013

    Adam @ 178 what fact are you on about? Do you people just make things up as you go along ?
    If Button is so good as you implied at feedback and setting the car up etc why was he using Hamiltons set up for the last 3 years?
    And why Paddy Lowe wants to go to Mercedes to work with Brawn and Lewis? Give it a rest the HYPE surrounding Button will be exposed this year! the only man on softs yesterday !

  • Comment posted by Sportsmad19, at 23:32 5 Feb 2013

    While hard to read into the times due to fuel loads, it seems pretty clear that McLaren have a competitive package as well as Red Bull. What will be interesting to see tomorrow is Hamilton driving the Mercedes for the first time.

  • Comment posted by billybobman, at 22:02 5 Feb 2013

    @105

    Surely you can see why your post (85) made you look like a hypocritical Button fan and/or Hamilton hater? You did in that post only mention Hamilton "fanboys" and Button bashers. And you said Button seems to get more unfair abuse from people on here. Trust me, I've been reading stuff on here for a while and he's still got a long way to go before he's received as much as Hamilton.

  • Comment posted by SinophilinSpain, at 14:17 6 Feb 2013

    179.rn . A awful lot of that hot air emanates from the Buffoon trying to inflate his own self importance. It will be interesting to see if Perez can out perform him this season. I expect Lewis will have a tough early season whilst they develop his car, but will be strong later in the season.

  • Comment posted by The Realist, at 21:29 5 Feb 2013

    @85

    I don't see why you are condemning one side to another forum when being totally biased and allowing your side to remain here. If they go then YOU go as well, that is how it should work... yes?

    Leave the BBC comment section to real F1 fans who love the sport for what it is.

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