Jenson Button: Barcelona can be a funny circuit

As McLaren opted to take their reserve drivers’ Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett to the Mugello test, Jenson Button wowed thousands as he took to the streets of Budapest in a demonstration run as part of the ‘Raise Your Game Weekend’ event. The 2009 World Champion now heads to Barcelona, for the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

The British driver won around the Circuit de Catalunya in 2009, racing for Brawn on his way to the Championship title. Since then, whilst racing for McLaren, Jenson Button has only managed a 5th and a 3rd place on what he has described as a ‘funny circuit’.

“Barcelona can be a funny circuit: we all test there so regularly that every driver knows it like the back of his hand, yet it can still be an extremely tricky place to get absolutely right.” Explained Jenson Button, “You need to have absolutely every box ticked if you’re going to win at Barcelona. It’s a place that punishes poor balance like almost nowhere else – if your car is understeering around here, then you’re going to really struggle.”

After a successful start to the 2012 season, winning first time out in Australia, Jenson Button will be hoping he can return to winning ways after a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix. The Brit was forced to retire on lap 55 after a mechanical issue brought a premature end to his race. Both Button and Hamilton will be hoping the test week at Mugello can boost the team, with the unpredictability of the opening four races set to continue in the European season.

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