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F1 – Jenson Button sets sights on Canada

June 3, 2013 - 07:24 | F1

Jenson Button believes McLaren are “making steady progress” after a disappointing start to the season.

Jenson Button is confident he can pick up points in Canada after finishing sixth in Monaco.

The McLaren star admits his chances of securing the race win are slim, but after an encouraging performance at Monaco he is in optimistic mood ahead of the next GP.

Button enjoyed one of the most remarkable victories of his career in Canada in 2011 as he recovered from contact with then team-mate Lewis Hamilton and a puncture to secure maximum points.

The 2009 world champion admits a first place finish could be beyond McLaren, but Button will not rule out a surprise at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“Like Monaco, the Canadian Grand Prix can be something of an enjoyable lottery - but whereas Monaco is a low-speed, high-grip place, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is the opposite: high-speed and low-grip,” he said.

“It’s a mix that always comes together to provide the fans with great racing, which is another reason why it’s become one of the most popular races of the year.

“Going back to Canada always brings back happy memories of my race there in 2011. Coming through from last to first really does show that anything’s possible in Formula 1. While we won’t be heading to Montreal with a winning package, we’re making steady progress, and there’s always that added motivation that you can pull off a surprising result at this race.

“I’m looking forward to a great weekend in Canada.”

Button can be backed at 12/1 to secure a podium finish in Canada, while Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettl is 11/4 to grab the victory.

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is 10/3 to win the Canadian GP and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is priced at 7/2.

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Pressure lifts for upbeat Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

May 10, 2013 - 20:00 | F1

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Lewis Hamilton insists he is far happier now he is at Mercedes following his switch from McLaren at the end of last season.

Pressure lifts for upbeat Lewis Hamilton

The former world champion has made an encouraging start to the 2013 season, picking up podium finishes in Malaysia and China, as well as securing fifth spots in Australia and Bahrain.

There was a point where I was driving and crashing – for no reason.

Lewis Hamilton

He is 5/1 to be the fastest qualifier for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and 12/1 to actually win the race.

Hamilton says he doesn’t feel as though he is under as much pressure at Mercedes compared with McLaren, saying: “I was in a very controlled environment for as long as I can remember and only recently have I come out of that.

“Nothing controls me now. I’ve obviously got a boss in Ross Brawn, but now I make the decisions and I don’t have to report to anyone.

“There was a time when I would make a call and worry about it, that I was wrong, because of the way I was raised to look to my dad. It felt like a lot of pressure and I don’t have that now. I can call my dad and tell him I’ve bought a house or a car and share it with him. It’s a different chemistry.

“There was a point where I was driving and crashing – for no reason. I just wasn’t on the ball. In this job you can’t be thinking of anything else, you need to be focused all the time.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton is 18/1 to win a second world title in 2013, with Mercedes 14/1 to be crowned constructors’ champions.

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Pressure lifts for upbeat Lewis Hamilton

May 8, 2013 - 08:00 | F1

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Lewis Hamilton insists he is far happier now he is at Mercedes following his switch from McLaren at the end of last season.

Pressure lifts for upbeat Lewis Hamilton

The former world champion has made an encouraging start to the 2013 season, picking up podium finishes in Malaysia and China, as well as securing fifth spots in Australia and Bahrain.

There was a point where I was driving and crashing – for no reason.

Lewis Hamilton

He is 5/1 to be the fastest qualifier for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and 12/1 to actually win the race.

“Nothing controls me now. I’ve obviously got a boss in Ross Brawn, but now I make the decisions and I don’t have to report to anyone.

“There was a point where I was driving and crashing – for no reason. I just wasn’t on the ball. In this job you can’t be thinking of anything else, you need to be focused all the time.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton is 18/1 to win a second world title in 2013, with Mercedes 14/1 to be crowned constructors’ champions.

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Jenson Button forecasts McLaren upturn

April 4, 2013 - 13:00 | F1

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Jenson Button still believes he can win his second drivers’ title this year even though he has struggled in the first two races of the 2013 season.

The 33-year-old McLaren driver, who won the world title with Brawn GP in 2009, came ninth at the Australian Grand Prix before finishing 17th in Malaysia.

The great thing is there are so many cars that are competitive and taking points off each other, which is exactly what we need.

Jenson Button

As a result Button has just two points from the first two rounds – 38 less than championship leader Sebastian Vettel – but the Englishman remains upbeat about the season ahead, starting with the Chinese Grand Prix later this month which he is 22/1 to win.

Button, 33/1 to win the 2013 drivers’ title, said: “The championship is still on as far as I’m concerned and I’m aiming for that. Definitely.

“Sebastian Vettel almost beat me to the title in 2009 and he didn’t score for the first four races. It’s a massive turnaround for us. Most of the race in Sepang we were quicker than the Lotus. Most of the race we were quicker than Ferrari. Who would have thought that five days before?

“We are still not where we want to be and we got a bit lucky with the circuit being so smooth which helped a bit, but a lot is understanding where the downforce is.

“The car is still not perfected, it was really thrown together for Sepang. The great thing is there are so many cars that are competitive and taking points off each other, which is exactly what we need.”

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F1 – Hamilton upbeat after Mercedes visit

January 22, 2013 - 19:37 | F1

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Lewis Hamilton believes he can help Mercedes challenge for F1 honours next season after visiting the team’s bases in Brackley and Stuttgart.

F1 - Hamilton upbeat after Mercedes visit

The 2008 world champion left McLaren for Mercedes at the end of the previous campaign but his chances of securing the Drivers’ Championship title in 2013 have been questioned by some pundits, as his new team struggled for points towards the end of the 2012 season.

However, the 28-year-old is optimistic Mercedes can challenge the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and his former employers following his trips to the Mercedes bases, although he admits there is still plenty of work ahead for his new team.

“I live to win,” he said in a Mercedes video. “That’s what I work towards every year so that’s what we’re going to work towards this year. Of course it’s going to be tough to beat the guys who are already at the front – the Red Bulls, the McLarens, the Ferraris – but I don’t think it’s impossible.”

He added: “I went to Brackley back in the early part of December, asking lots of questions, trying to get as much involved as I can in the limited time I was there. It was great to see how enthusiastic everyone was. It looked like there was incredible determination to turn this thing around and that gave me a lot of motivation for my winter.”

Hamilton, who is 14/1 to secure the drivers’ title, believes the 2013 campaign will be a learning curve for him and has confidence he can help Mercedes move forward.

“I think this year’s going to be an interesting year, an interesting journey,” he said of the season ahead. “Learning and getting to know new people is always a massive challenge and that’s first and foremost one of the biggest challenges I have. After that it’s trying to succeed with them and extract the most out of them. But I think it’s going to be a journey that we enjoy.”

Hamilton will be partnered by Nico Rosberg in 2013 and Rosberg can be backed at 50/1 to secure Drivers’ Championship glory, while McLaren star Jenson Button is 8/1 to emerge victorious.

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F1 – Jenson Button rues Hamilton loss

November 7, 2012 - 08:00 | F1

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Jenson Button admits Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes represents a big test for McLaren.

Jenson Button admits team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes is a “big loss” to McLaren.

Hamilton has agreed to join Mercedes ahead of the 2013 Formula 1 campaign, with McLaren securing the services of Sergio Perez from Sauber to replace the 2008 world champion.

Button, 32, admits Hamilton’s decision to leave McLaren is a blow to the Woking based team but is confident Perez will impress next season.

The McLaren star also rejected the suggestion he will act as Perez’s mentor, and insists he can also learn from the 22-year-old Mexican.

Button told a press conference on Thursday: “When Sergio is in the team, he’ll probably learn plenty from someone who is older and more experienced than he is – which will be me – but I still think that as an older driver you can still learn from a younger team-mate because they will still bring fresh ideas to the table. But an older brother? Definitely not!”

The 2009 world champion admits McLaren face a big test in recovering from the loss of Hamilton, but Button is confident his Perez will rise to the challenges ahead.

He added: “With Lewis leaving, the team lose a very fast driver and one who has achieved a lot- including the last championship won by the team. It is a big loss.

“But things change, you learn to adapt and it’s definitely not the end of two strong drivers at McLaren.

“Sergio will be fast, it’s a great opportunity for him and I’m sure he’ll take it with both hands.”

Button is 12/1 to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, while Perez can be backed at 150/1.

Hamilton has failed to secure a podium finish since announcing his decision to join Mercedes and can be backed at 6/1 to come out on top and take maximum points this weekend.

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Lewis Hamilton dismisses ‘rubbish’ speculation

September 18, 2012 - 07:14 | F1

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McLaren star Lewis Hamilton insists he is in a strong position as the drivers’ title race moves towards an exciting climax.

Lewis Hamilton dismisses 'rubbish' speculation

The former world champion has also said that he has put talk of a potential switch to Mercedes at the end of this season when his McLaren contract expires to one side and is focused only on racing.

He is 4/1 to win this year’s drivers’ title and 9/4 to finish first at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Hamilton has called some of the speculation surrounding his future “rubbish” and insists: “My focus is on trying to win this world championship.

The most important thing is that I do not get distracted by all the rubbish that’s been around.

Lewis Hamilton

“Of course I do have to have those things sorted out but I have people in the background working on those contract negotiations. There’s a lot of speculation, there’s a lot of stories that aren’t true.

“I think we’re all wise enough to understand that people write things and that what is written is not necessarily what is true. I think the most important thing is that I’m 100 per cent focused on winning with this team and taking them forward.

“I’ve been with the team since I was 13 and we’ve worked so hard since 2009 to try and win this championship and hopefully, finally, we’re in the position where we can. So the most important thing is that I do not get distracted by all the rubbish that’s been around.”

Hamilton is currently second in the championship, while former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso leads the standings and Kimi Raikkonen is third. Alonso is 1/2 to win the drivers’ title for a third time while Raikkonen is 12/1 to clinch the world championship.

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Lewis Hamilton – Whitmarsh holds hope

September 7, 2012 - 23:59 | F1

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McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Lewis Hamilton will remain with his current employers despite rumours regarding his future.

Martin Whitmarsh expects Lewis Hamilton to stay at McLaren.

The 2008 world champion has been linked with a move to Mercedes, as the speculation regarding his future continues.

However, Whitmarsh is confident McLaren will be able to keep hold of the 27-year-old, who will race in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza this weekend.

He told Sky Sports News: “Lewis and his management company have assured me of their intentions.

“The media like this kind of speculation, but I’ve been doing this job too long to be surprised by things like that. It’s a fairly incestuous paddock so you tend to know, certainly if you’ve been around for 20 years, what’s going on.

“Often stories that circulate get blown out of proportion for entertainment reasons or whatever. So I don’t spend any time, effort or energy on things like that. It will be resolved. I don’t think it’s a big an issue in this team as perhaps it is in the media room.”

Hamilton is 5/2 to win in Italy this weekend, with his McLaren team-mate Jenson Button 4/1 and Drivers’ Championship leader Fernando Alonso 9/2.

Hamilton currently trails Alonso by 47 points in the overall standings and is 7/1 to win his second world championship.

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Button keen to break duck

July 3, 2012 - 17:00 | Uncategorized

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Jenson Button is desperate to end his dismal record at the British Grand Prix when the latest race of the 2012 season takes place at Silverstone this weekend.

During his career, Button has never even been on the podium in 12 attempts at his home grand prix, although he did finish fourth with BAR eight years ago and again with McLaren in 2010.

Button, who is 16/1 to break his duck by winning the British GP on Sunday, has only amassed six points from his last five races and is keen to turn the tide as soon as possible.

It would be a very special year to stand at the top of the podium as winner of the British Grand Prix.

Jenson Button

The title race remains wide open even though the halfway stage of the season has almost been reached and Button is 40/1 to finish at the top of the standings while McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton is available at 3/1 and double world champion Sebastian Vettel at 9/4 to make it three titles in a row.

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When asked about the possibility of winning at Silverstone, Button replied: “I’ve imagined it many times. I’m sure it feels very special because you see the fans excited and celebrating with you.

“It’s a massive year for the UK with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics. It would be a very special year to stand at the top of the podium as winner of the British Grand Prix.

“Of course, every year is special to win your home grand prix but this year we have the best opportunity. The car should suit the circuit. Although we race for a team, most drivers are very patriotic and they want to succeed at their home grands prix for themselves but also for their countrymen.”

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Whitmarsh positive for Spain

May 10, 2012 - 20:00 | Uncategorized

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McLaren supremo Martin Whitmarsh claims that his team is confident of bouncing back with a positive result at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Martin Whitmarsh is confident of an improved display from McLaren in Spain.

The Woking-based Formula One outfit endured a disappointing race last time out in Bahrain as they struggled with tyre usage and ultimately ended the race with no driver on the podium for the first time this year.

But Whitmarsh feels testing in Mugello last week went well and their upgrades, which include a raised nose and revised front wing design, should stand them in good stead at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya this weekend and for the remainder of the season.

McLaren’s Jenson Button is 4/1 to win in Spain, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton is 3/1, while Red Bull’s reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel is 11/4 to come out on top.

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Whitmarsh, who feels the ‘unpredictability’ of 2012 so far due to the fact there have been four different winners in the first four races, will make it an ‘exciting championship’ for all involved.

I believe we will be competitive in Spain and going forward.

Martin Whitmarsh

On McLaren’s hopes, he said: “I believe we will be competitive in Spain and going forward.

“You don’t know what other teams are going to do, we’re working hard to understand tyres and the car and continuously develop it; we know others will be doing the same.

“You can never be confident you understand everything or that others won’t up their game and give you a harder time. But within the team at the moment there is a positive feeling.”

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