Jenson Button believes mechanic mistake cost him a podium finish
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Jenson Button says he could have "challenged the Mercedes" for a podium finish had it not been for a mistake by his pit crew.
The McLaren driver was in third place when he entered the pits for his third and final scheduled stop.
A problem fitting a front tyre meant he was delayed and re-entered the action in 14th before eventually retiring.
"At worst it could have been fifth place but I think we could have challenged the Mercedes," Button said.
"When I pitted it would have been my last pit stop, I didn't have to stop again, whereas everyone else did.
"We did everything right, we pitted on the correct laps but it is what it is.
"We had a problem with the pit stop and once we had pushed the car back and changed the wheel you are never going to get a result.
"We had a chance of getting a point in the end but the front left kept locking up and was producing such a bad vibration. We were worried about the front suspension so they called me in."
Button finished ninth in the first race of the season in Australia, picking up two points, but is pleased with the improvement of his car's performance since.
"Apart from the hiccup with the pit stop I think it was a great job this weekend from where we were in Melbourne," he added.
"We're still not quick enough but our race pace is good and I think in terms of strategy and what we did and the start I got everything was working really well."
Last season a catalogue of errors by the mechanics prevented both Button and Lewis Hamilton mounting a serious title challenge.
Hamilton started the Malaysian Grand Prix on pole, but delays during two of his stops dropped him down the field and he finished third.
In Bahrain, wheel nut problems at two separate stops saw the 2008 world champion finish eighth after starting second.
Then, in Spain, Hamilton ran out of fuel in qualifying after an operational error and was demoted from pole to the back of the grid.
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This is not an isolated incident. Failures due to McLaren cost Lewis and Jenson heavily last season. Lewis grew frustrated, i see Button is also
How anyone can get so upset by either LH or JB's actions on and off the track needs to step back have a chat with themselves and possibly find a woman.
He earnt a drive at Mclaren, we have heard speculation that Ferrari were interested a few times over the years even before the WDC year. maybe some truth in it.
2 top teams, Williams & Mclaren have wanted the services of Jenson. Teams that know more about f1 then most.
for the record I am a big JB fan but recognise that he is not in the same group as LH, FA & SV. best of the rest imo.
How many times do we hear in football, if only..... blah blah blah, isn't it just part of sport in general!
To save all this bother let me sum it up for you;
*You think JB is utterly gubbins
*You think he lucked in to his wdc
*You think LH lost 150 pts last year
*You think LH should be 2012 champion
*You think LH is the greatest
*You think SV is lucky
There, we all know what youre trying to say - enough?
btw... I was agreeing button had a chance to take a podium finish though it would have been a fight with rosberg to get there... But a chance none the less.
Any fan of LH who cannot or will not accept he was well beaten in 2011 by JB is pathetic.
Any fan of JB who cannot or will not accept he was well beaten in 2012 by LH is pathetic.
The lost points debate is a waste of time but I will say LH was very unlucky in 2012 and would have been a worthy Champion.