Sunday: Zero Points at Home for McLaren

Jenson Button – 13th:

I started with the hard tires, but I quickly experienced graining, which caused me problems early in the first stint. I was more satisfied with the mediums. Our pace wasn’t too bad, but the last stint was particularly difficult. After the last safety car intervention, there wasn’t much rubber left on my tires, so getting them up to temperature was tricky – we had trouble with that anyway.

In the final laps, I was vulnerable. All the cars with fresher tires were fighting to pass, and as soon as I went off the racing line to defend, it became increasingly difficult to properly heat the tires.

For safety reasons, the causes of the tire issues encountered this weekend need to be resolved. It’s dangerous for the driver in the car, because they could lose control; but it’s also dangerous for the driver of the car behind, because you could be hit by a rubber debris. Let’s hope things can be modified for the next race.

I finally want to say a big thank you to all the fans who were behind us this weekend. Each year, your support seems to grow more and more important, and your passion for the sport seems to deepen – it has been an honor and a privilege to race in front of such an enthusiastic audience. Your support has been wonderful for me this weekend. So, thank you.

Sergio Perez – 20th:

« It’s really a shame for the team – we needed this result. My race was going well. I was in the top 10 for most of the afternoon when my left rear tire suddenly blew out. I just felt an explosion on the Hangar straight – I couldn’t do anything.

Tires are a concern. Fortunately, nothing serious happened, but we need to get together, get an explanation, and do something.

Overall, we made progress this weekend. We had useful improvements and showed that our pace has taken a step forward. There is a lot of positive to take away. We just weren’t lucky today. »