Jenson Button: It was one of the toughest races I’ve had

Jenson Button has explained how the Brazilian Grand Prix was one of the toughest races he has competed in, after light rain began to fall upon the Interlagos circuit prior to the race. The rain then initially stopped, before returning much heavier in the latter stages of the race, a race which Jenson Button masterfully won for McLaren.

After starting the race in 2nd position alongside outbound team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button jostled for the lead in the early stages. Upon taking the lead, the majority of the field elected to pit for intermediate tyres, however Jenson Button and 2nd placed driver Nico Hulkenberg remained out on track on dry tyres. The Force India driver then caught and overtook Jenson Button for the lead, however the duo’s advantage for staying out on track was thwarted as the safety car was deployed.

Once the race was resumed, Lewis Hamilton began to claw his way back through the field, initially overtaking Jenson Button for 2nd and then Nico Hulkenberg for the lead after the German spun. However, the race was still not over for Button, after Hulkenberg tried to retake the lead and took out Lewis Hamilton. The German was then struck with a drive-thru penalty, gifting Jenson Button the race lead and eventually his 15th career victory in the sport.

“It was one of the toughest races I’ve had.” Explained Jenson Button after the race, “It was very tricky. It was on that point many times when you think Inters is the right tyre. I kept asking the team “what’s going to happen with the weather: it’s supposed to be light showers?” Well OK, we’ll see how we go but it was so, so difficult. You’re locking up tyres here and there but you’ve just got to push to the limit.”

Despite the treacherous track conditions, Jenson Button kept control of his Mercedes-powered McLaren in superlative style, which enabled him to take yet another victory in changeable conditions reminiscent of Hungary 2006 and Australia 2010. The 32-year-old started the season in winning fashion in Australia, and has now ended the season likewise. With Lewis Hamilton departing from the outfit to Mercedes, Jenson Button will hope this victory is the first of many in his time as McLaren’s “senior” driver.

“But it was a really good race.” Continued Jenson Button, “Obviously things were made more difficult with the first safety car. Lost 40 seconds, the race was between me and Nico [Hulkenberg] then. It was made a lot more difficult. And then when the safety car came in I grained the front-right tyre. I really struggled but when that went away it was good. We started the year so strong and we’ve ended it so strong. Just a few areas that we need to improve in the middle of the season.”

Jenson Button will be hoping he can battle for Championship supremacy in 2013, as McLaren welcomes the arrival of former Sauber driver Sergio Perez to the team. This decision by McLaren has raised many eyebrows within the paddock, however the duo will be looking to immediately silence their critics in 2013, with another victory at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit.

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