Jenson Button handed five place grid penalty at Japan Grand Prix after unscheduled gearbox change on McLaren car The 2009 world champion currently sits sixth in the standings, 75 points adrift of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe told AUTOSPORT: "Jenson's gearbox had the same problem as Lewis' gearbox during the Singapore Grand Prix, and subsequent investigation has revealed a terminal failure. Therefore both cars must start the Japanese Grand Prix with new gearboxes, which means that Jenson will receive a five-place penalty.