Button encouraged by his performance

Best time of the practice session, Jenson Button was smiling as he got off his McLaren. Forgotten the worries of winter, the MP4-26 seems particularly sharp. “Today, above all, we showed that we are reliable, which is great, rejoices the teammate of Lewis Hamilton. This is something we haven't had all winter. Having a car that works for several laps the way we want it to is satisfying. It also means we can keep our settings and improve the car. »

The 2009 world champion, however, does not prefer to draw any hasty lessons. The test sessions remain work sessions and it is particularly difficult to know the quantities of gasoline on board. “I don't think today's times are very telling, so I'm not going to get too excited, He notes. Still, it was a very positive day because we were able to run a lot and get a good feeling with the car with different fuel loads. The new exhaust has certainly helped the car's performance, it feels better and is easier to drive. When you have downforce at the rear, you can add some to the front, and once the tires are up to temperature, there is more downforce. I am very happy with the way the guys worked and what they brought to this race. They really worked hard and they brought something good here. We don't know yet, but we are encouraged by the step we have taken today. »

The qualifying session, starting tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. (French time), should tell us a little more about the real performance of the McLaren.