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McLaren's Sergio Perez drove dangerously says Jenson Button

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer in Bahrain

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments634

Bahrain GP highlights: Sebastian Vettel powers to win

Jenson Button accused McLaren team-mate Sergio Perez of driving dangerously during Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

Button said Perez, nicknamed 'Checo', needed to "calm down" following their on-track battle, during which they clashed several times.

"I'm not used to driving down a straight and your team-mate wiggling his wheels at you and banging wheels at 300kph," said ex-world champion Button.

"That's things you do in karting but grow out of. Not the case with Checo."

The two drivers were disputing fifth place at the time, with Perez eventually finishing sixth as Button dropped back to 10th because of high tyre degradation.

Button complained to the team about the 23-year-old Perez during the race.

In one radio communication, the Briton said: "He's just hit me up the back. Calm him down."

Button also accused his Mexican team-mate of moving across his line on the straight and "wheel-banging".

After the race, Button added: "I was very vocal on the radio - emotions were running high - but I would say the same thing again."

Bahrain GP: McLaren's Jenson Button and Sergio Perez battle on-track

He said it had been a "fun race, lots of good fighting, most of it clean", but felt Perez had over-stepped the mark.

"Banging wheels at 300kph isn't something we do in Formula 1 normally, so it's a new thing for me," added Button. "Maybe this is the way we go racing now, I don't know. But it's not the way I want to go racing.

"We'll have to have a little chat I think because I don't like banging wheels at 300kph. That's dangerous."

On Perez's sixth-place finish, Button said: "The good thing is he got some good points for the team, but soon something serious will happen.

"He has to calm down. I mean, he's extremely quick and did a great job today but some of it is unnecessary and an issue when you're doing those speeds."

A lap after Perez had hit Button up the back, the Englishman forced him off the track at the exit of Turn Four by taking the racing line when Perez was trying to pass him around the outside.

Perez admitted that banging wheels was "a bit too much" but felt Button had been just as "risky".

Perez added: "I agree that we were too aggressive, but he was as aggressive as I was. I went out of the track a few times. We were fighting. This is something we have to speak about to sort it out."

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh decided not to intervene at the time but admitted after the race that he felt Perez had gone too far on at least one occasion, when Perez hit the back of Button's car at Turn Four on lap 30.

"Rule number one, don't hit your team-mate," Whitmarsh said. "That could have been a puncture for Jenson and taken his own front wing off.

Button and Perez go head-to-head before the Chinese GP

"If he'd have come back to the garage then, he'd have been for it - and he knows that.

"Unquestionably that was over the limit. Wheel-to-wheel banging was marginal but you don't jump on a youngster who has just done that. I told him what I thought about hitting his team-mate, but we'll be calm and go through the other stuff."

Whitmarsh spoke to Perez after a difficult race in China last weekend and said he needed to be tougher on the track.

"People have been saying he hasn't had the spark this year," said Whitmarsh. "Well, he definitely had the spark today.

"He has to learn and perhaps calm down a little bit, but it is that passion that got him past a few more drivers later in the race, so you don't want to extinguish that spark."

Whitmarsh took Button aside in the paddock after the race to try to take some of the heat out of the situation.

The McLaren team principal said: "Jenson doesn't appreciate it, but the great thing about Jenson is he's a grown-up. He'll get over it."

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634 comments

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 19:32 21 Apr 2013

    Dear Jenson,

    Canada 2011.

    Love CK x

  • Comment posted by addF1, at 19:55 21 Apr 2013

    He was doing what he was told to do. To race. He finally looks like a McLaren driver with that performance and Button wasn't exactly playing fair either. Perez was faster and it was a great battle but a little messy by the two drivers. Look at Webber and Hamilton for a clean professional fight.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 21:13 21 Apr 2013

    When are the media going to wake up to the fact that they can't brainwash us into being Jenson fans?

    This article is very one sided and puts only JB's side and attempts to point the finger at Perez.

    I'm very encouraged by the comments that people arent falling for it and are quite rightly telling it how it is.

    JB got as much as he gave and should stop whinging like a little girl.

  • Comment posted by U15698904, at 19:57 21 Apr 2013

    perez was fighting and impressed a lot of people. he drove his best race of 2013 and showed his talent

  • Comment posted by GMF, at 20:12 21 Apr 2013

    If Perez was driving dangerously, I'm sure we'll see him under investigation from the FIA. Oh wait, they saw nothing wrong.

    Jenslow is showing his true colours. He's a snake and I'm flabbergasted people look at him with through rose coloured glasses.
    Perez had the better of him. He knows it and he's doesn't like it. Echoes of Canada 2011 when he pushed Lewis off the track. He bleated then too

  • Comment posted by Think Tank, at 21:18 21 Apr 2013

    Jenson:

    Sergio is faster than you. Sergio is faster than you.

    Please confirm you understood the message.

  • Comment posted by U10625469, at 19:46 21 Apr 2013

    Sounds like sour grapes to me. Perez was faster, did what he needed to in order to pass Button. Button knew that and defended with his life, fair enough - But dont get shirty when your teamate displays the same tenacity in taking the place as you did defending it.

    All fair and square from what i saw, no further questions your honour.

  • Comment posted by Focusthemind, at 20:06 21 Apr 2013

    As a 30+ year supporter on the Mclaren team, it was good to see Perez show some fighting spirit, even if it was a little fraught around the edges. It's nice to see we have a least one driver with some fight! Jensen needs to rid the beaten man look and get a grip. Dangerous not at all! RACE and FIGHT are what your paid to do. If you cannot stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen !!!

  • Comment posted by DreemUK, at 19:50 21 Apr 2013

    Whine whine whine! I listened to the race commentary live on BBC 5 before watching the highlights on BBC and I must say I'm disgusted by how they overplayed it on BBC 5 and made it look worse than it really is. Everything Perez did was FAIR racing and at no point did he "disrespect" JB. They were even calling for team orders to stop Perez passing. Those guys should hang their heads in shame!

  • Comment posted by U14928791, at 21:11 21 Apr 2013

    "We'll have to have a little chat I think because I don't like banging wheels at 300kph. That's dangerous."
    A reconsideration on a career change might be in order Mr. Button.
    Or, it´s a good thing you´re not racing against Gerhard Berger, Ayrton Senna, Schumacher, Tazio Nuvolari or Prost for that matter.
    I thought Button have the "talk" with Checo, telling him to be up to the task?

  • Comment posted by U11717342, at 20:06 21 Apr 2013

    Jenson Button showed why he WILL NEVER WIN A WDC AGAIN!!!
    First sign of a little pressure from his team mate he starts crying. Imagine if it was the other way round.I hope SP beats JB this season and new sponsors put pressure on McLaren to get rid of excuse making I cannot drive a car that is not perfect JB.JB shamed F1 today with his cry baby antics.How long has he been in F1? Great drive Perez.

  • Comment posted by U3423623, at 19:59 21 Apr 2013

    Jenson had the faster car at the beginning, but not the middle or end. Jenson was infront with clear track, if he's the faster driver, drive away from your team mate. If you're the slower driver, get out the way and let him pass. If not, expect a fight. JB allowed 2 other drivers to catch up almost 6 seconds over 5 laps around lap 25. JB didn't have the pace, in a car set up for him. Sour grapes.

  • Comment posted by U15247754, at 21:10 21 Apr 2013

    moan, moan, moan...Mr Jenson "blown diffuser champ" Button the most overrated driver out of the top 5 teams and possibly F1. This guy doesn't even come close to Alonso, Seb, Lewis or Kimi, he simply hasn't got a monopoly on the big boys.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 21:01 21 Apr 2013

    24. spactus Jenson has the Mclaren team just where he wants them,in mediocrity ,so no pressure and any point finish is treated as great by the underachieving British pundits.
    --------

    Absolutely spot on! it's disgusting how they try and twist JB's mediocre performances as something special and blame the car. Well not even the most creative pundit could say he did a good job today.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 20:31 21 Apr 2013

    Jenson is having a complete laugh. He ran Perez completely off track but Benson doesn't want to put a clip of that up.

    I don't respect that Jenson cant just put his hands up when he gets beat instead of finger pointing.

    I'm just amazed the BBC aka ButtonBroadcastingCompany actually enabled comments on a Button article as they always go out of their way to protect him from the fans criticisms.

  • Comment posted by U14549104, at 21:35 21 Apr 2013

    @84 "Button seems more concerned about the pecking order at McLaren than getting results" .....So true I noticed that with Lewis last year. He would grin like a Cheshire cat celebrating 1 or 2 points, as long as Lewis had DNF

  • Comment posted by TonnnnUK, at 10:01 22 Apr 2013

    If this whole "for the team" concern was priority, Button would have realised early on that Perez was quicker and allowed a smooth pass rather than defending with his life!

    To me it seemed Button was throwing his toys out of the pram in a "no, I'm the number 1 driver in this team and you'll finish behind me", kind of way.

    Media seem to staunchly defend the Brit here. F1 isn't a patriotic sport.

  • Comment posted by 2008marcus, at 09:22 22 Apr 2013

    Button you were out driven by the rookie in your team and didn't like it!! go and put your toys back in the pram.

  • Comment posted by f1natic, at 22:01 21 Apr 2013

    You have to feel sorry for Jenson - 4 races and no "changeable conditions" to show off his skill. Remember when we were told he was so smooth and easy on his tyres - actually he was just slow and it just played perfectly for these useless tyres which are making a joke out of F1. Today he tried to call in a team order (a la Vettel), got passed by his team mate and then had to go in for extra tyres.

  • Comment posted by sbambra11, at 21:15 21 Apr 2013

    I think they are confusing dangerous driving with aggressive driving. Perez was under pressure and he delivered today, Jenson just didn't like how quick Perez was.

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