Rain or no gain
Button reckons wet race could help McLaren
JENSON BUTTON reckons only rain will give him a chance of victory in Malaysia this weekend.
The Brit, 33, has blasted this year’s McLaren and delivered a brutal verdict after the Aussie Grand Prix — insisting it would not win a single race in its current state.
But it could be a different story in Sepang if the conditions make it difficult for his rivals.
Button, who finished ninth in Melbourne, said: “I don’t think we can expect an improvement in our fortunes but the thing about Malaysia is that it can be so unpredictable.
“The late start time on Sunday tends to see late-afternoon showers fall.
“We know that the unpredictable weather can make it a lottery for everyone.
“That’s something that could play into our hands — I do enjoy driving in changeable conditions.
“I would love the challenge of being able to run competitively in a car that we all know is not quite capable of challenging for wins yet.”
Rain looks like Button’s best chance of victory as he clearly is unhappy with the car designed by Mercedes-bound Paddy Lowe, who is on gardening leave.
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That has cranked up the pressure on team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who has already warned that winning the race could be beyond the team this weekend in Malaysia.
He said: “Clearly our performance in Australia last weekend was not up to our high expectations.
“We have been working tirelessly to bring additional performance to the car but the short turnaround between rounds one and two means we’ll arrive in Malaysia with less scope to improve our fortunes.
“This weekend, however, will provide us with additional opportunities to understand our car’s behaviour and to increase our under-standing of the package.”
But Button believes McLaren has the right man to straighten out the creases in his screwed-up motor.
Like Button, new technical director Tim Goss is a fan of the gruelling Ironman triathlons where competitors swim, cycle and then run a marathon without a break.
Now Goss has the task of fixing Button’s woeful car.
And Button said: “He is our technical director now.
“It’s good that he’s got a hobby outside his job because he’s going to be working his a**e off.
“He was the main man in the championship winning car, back in 2008, and last year’s car.
“He’s a pleasure to work with. He really listens to what we have to say.”
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