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Jenson Button urges Formula 1 critics to give McLaren-Honda a break
By Ian Parkes Tuesday, June 9th 2015, 10:08 GMT
Jenson Button has called on McLaren-Honda's critics to give the team a break following its wretched start to the Formula 1 season, amplified by a Canadian Grand Prix to forget.
The weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve included two engine changes, and a new MGU-H and turbo charger for Button's car before a double retirement with unrelated exhaust issues.
A swathe of criticism has naturally followed, with many questioning whether the Woking-based team will return to the front of the grid at all this season.
McLaren F1 team to add resources to Honda engine programme
Button can understand the flak in part, given McLaren's history and heritage, but also feels it is unfounded as the reunited McLaren-Honda partnership attempts to get on top of its issues.
"The problem is when you are a team that has won grands prix and world championships you are massively under pressure, and nobody gives this team a break," said Button.
"But when you look at the improvements we've made, it's been massive.
"This is such a competitive sport and that is why we want to take part in it, and the reason why manufacturers take part in it.
"To come in two years younger than the rest of the manufacturers is a big deal, and I personally feel that we have done a great job.
"Confidence is high in the team, and Honda understands that help from McLaren is always positive and vice versa, so it's a good partnership.
"I feel we have the package to achieve great things in the future."
Immediately after the race, Button described the weekend as "painful" as the team appeared to take backward steps - rather than forwards as expected, on the basis of Honda using tokens to upgrade the power unit.
But as the team discovered, the car was again lacking in not only speed, but also reliability.
Team-mate Fernando Alonso went so far as to say he believed he was
made to look like "an amateur driver" during the race.
"It's always a tricky balance; we all want to perform. We're also pressurised to perform. You feel it," added Button.
"It's very difficult, especially for the young guys in the team. Everyone is asking, 'when are you going to win?', so you push the boundaries.
"But we were weak in both reliability and outright pace. Hopefully in a few weeks we can solve those issues.
"What happened, though, won't hurt this team. We scored points in Monaco, which no one expected.
"So we have to take the rough with the smooth and look at the season as a whole, and know we've improved every race."
McLaren ready to help Honda recover
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By:
Jonathan Noble, Formula 1 Editor
4 hours ago
McLaren says it is ready to throw its own resources at helping Honda fast track the improvements need to turn its Formula 1 season around.
On the back of a difficult Canadian Grand Prix weekend, beset by reliability problems and a lack of performance,
McLaren and Honda are facing up to the fact that dramatic progress is now needed.
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier insists that despite frustrations with the situation they are in, his team must now think about what it can do to ensure Honda can react in the right way.
"It is easy to blame the partner but as a partner we also have to be supportive," he said. "Part of it, it is not in our hands directly, but we are a supporter and need to help them to accelerate this recovery time.
"To be fair, they decided to join Formula 1 two years ago and it is not easy to be here and win.
"We always said we had a mountain to climb, but it looks like it is a very high mountain and we need to make sure we are properly equipped to do it as well."
When asked to specify what can be done to help Honda, Boullier said: "In terms of timing, when you want to catch up you basically have to put more resources on the program.
"If you want to do it short-term you need to bring more experienced resources.
"We have some software, IT, whatever it is now – we have this experience at home so
McLaren can actually offer Honda so support in this domain to help them shift resources."
Getting listened to
Boullier also reckons that the disappointing showing in Canada may actually help in allowing Honda to accept that it could need some extra help.
He suggested that there may be more scope for the Japanese company to listen to
McLaren's views on what needs to be done.
"Obviously we hope to be listened to more," he said. "They do [listen]. We have discussions every day, and I don't want to go into anything in public.
"But there is some way to improve faster and we should go that path."
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