After missing Day One, Button says 'nothing scary' about the 2014 car
Thursday 30 January 2014 07:38, UK
Jenson Button has described the belated debut of McLaren's MP4-29 as "positive" and believes the car has immediately provided a stronger starting point for the team than its flawed predecessor.
Encouraged by the MP4-29's own inherent performance, it also didn't escape Button's notice that it had been a strong Day Two for all of the four Mercedes-powered teams. While the three Renault customer customers, including World Champions Red Bull, completed 18 laps between them amid battery problems, Mercedes engines racked up a combined total of 212 laps. Button revealed that all the Mercedes teams had been running different kinds of programmes to understand the engine and admitted that, somewhat against the grain in the usually cut-throat world of F1, they could all help each other. "Looking at the timesheets today it's very interesting because we're running a very different programme to [Nico] Rosberg and Mercedes," he revealed. "We're running very different engine modes, we're trying different things, so we're getting a lot of information from both cars. Also with [Williams driver Valtteri] Bottas and with [Force India's Sergio] Perez as well. "So there's a lot of information, a lot of mileage. I think it's 75 per cent of the mileage done by an F1 car has a Mercedes engine. You could say we're in good shape that way as long as it continues like that. We all need to work together. Obviously at the end of the day we're all here to fight each other as teams but the more information that we can share over the next weeks and months can really make a difference to our championship." McLaren are under pressure to deliver a much stronger 2014 Championship after slumping to fifth place last year and Boullier's appointment is part of a sweeping management restructure initiated at the team by the returning Ron Dennis. Asked to comment on Boullier's appointment as his effective new line manager, Button suggested that the former Lotus chief would bring something to Woking. "I think it's good to have fresh ideas. He does add to the team," the 2009 World Champion said. "The team will never be changed by one individual but I think he does add something. When the management structure is complete we will be in good shape." Button's participation at Jerez had been due to end after Tuesday but the MP4-29's Day One no-show has led McLaren to alter their schedule for Day Three, with the 2009 World Champion continuing in the car in the morning before handing over to new rookie team-mate Kevin Magnussen. Scheduled Jerez Day Three line-up:
