Button runs strong in Brazil: "I've got nothing to prove"
Jenson Button came one spot short of a podium result at Interlagos.
Jenson Button, McLaren F1 Team and Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari
XPB Images
Jenson Button provided a timely reminder of his ability by taking fourth place at Interlagos as speculation continues about his future.
Button ran fifth initially, and moved up when Valtteri Bottas had a problem at the second round stops. Team mate Kevin Magnussen finished ninth.
A solid day
“It was all pretty smooth up until the last pit stop. There was just a bit of miscommunication coming into the pits – the call wasn't entirely made to come in. It was talked about what would happen if we did stop. It was just a bit of a miscommunication, we were talking over each other at the time. I did one extra lap, which might have cost us a place.
“It was a fun race. Straightline speed was a bit of an issue with the Ferrari, I had a great battle with Kimi. I enjoyed that very much. P4, a shame we couldn't quite hang onto Massa.”
I've got nothing to prove. This is what I do, this is what I've done for 15 years. I'll always do my best. Sometimes it obviously isn't enough, but today it obviously was.
Jenson Button
“All you've got to do is drive the car as fast as you can, and carry yourself as well as you can, that's all you can do. The rest isn't in your hands.”
"Judging the race was so tricky with tyres, but I think we did a good job. I pushed really hard on the first stint on the primes when I was up behind Bottas. I destroyed my rears trying to stay with him, but I thought if I could stay in DRS we can gap the guys behind. It was worth it, and it worked in the end. But I had to back off on the next stint to really conserve the tyres.”
Button's future in F1
It's widely assumed that McLaren won't have room for Jenson next year, with an Alonso/Magnussen line-up the most favoured combination.
“All I can say so is I feel I'm doing a good job at the moment. I've got nothing to prove. This is what I do, this is what I've done for 15 years. I'll always do my best. Sometimes it obviously isn't enough, but today it obviously was.
“All you've got to do is drive the car as fast as you can, and carry yourself as well as you can, that's all you can do. The rest isn't in your hands.”
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