Button admits McLaren-Honda 'won't win first race'

Jenson Button has admitted that McLaren's test programme with new engine partner Honda is still not going to plan after another "tough day" at Barcelona on Saturday.

At the start of the Barcelona test, a faulty seal on the Honda's MGU-K unit forced Japanese engineers to return the drawing board. The new part was fitted on Saturday, but it too failed and left Button at the bottom of the timesheets.

Before that happened, team boss Eric Boullier had said McLaren-Honda had only got through 50 per cent of its scheduled test programme ahead of Melbourne.

"It's about 43 per cent now," quipped Button.

"Our situation looks worse than it is," he added, "because I know we will solve the problems we are having.

"I know we will not have a race-winning car at the first race, but we could have one by the last race. You're going to see big improvements from us.

"This is a very different situation to the last two years – then we just weren't quick enough. There are problems that we need to solve, which we will solve – hopefully soon.

"There is a lot of potential in this car," he added, "but it's difficult to get it out when we are constantly pulling it apart and putting it back together.

"I feel when I get into the car every time that everything feels right with the car, but I haven't pushed it yet."