Breaking news
Formula 1 Russian GP
Russian GP: Button braced for "very tough" race
Jenson Button says he is bracing himself for a 'tough' Russian Grand Prix, despite a better than expected qualifying session on Saturday.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Oct 10, 2015, 5:31 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Briton will start from 13th on the grid at Sochi – which is his second best performance of the season after qualifying 12th (but starting 10th) in Monaco.
But despite the positivity of the pace in getting through to Q2, Button fears that the long straights at Sochi will again expose the big weakness his Honda engine has in terms of energy deployment.
"We performed okay, probably a touch better than I personally felt we would," he said.
"Tomorrow though is going to be a very tough day. I think a difficult day for us with the weaknesses we have.
"It will cost us quite a bit of laptime in the race."
No defence
When the energy deployment on the McLaren's Honda engine runs out, Button and Fernando Alonso find themselves without the 160bhp the boost gives them.
That is why they are often overtaken by their fully powered rivals before they get to the braking zone.
Button confessed that the situation at Sochi would likely be as bad as it had been in recent races.
"It will be an issue and whatever we do on lap one, can be undone very easily," he said. "So it is tough in that situation.
"We are both very emotional when it comes to racing, and we are passionate about racing and we want to do all we can, even if it is fighting for 13th. You want to do all your can to keep the cars behind you.
"We will do all we can tomorrow and use everything in the right way in terms of deployment and what have you. But it will be a tough day.
"It is definitely not going to be any easier than Suzuka. We will do our best and see where we end up.
"We can't use strategy either because it is very unlikely that people will be doing a big amount of stops tomorrow."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Hamilton "1000%" behind F1 weekend schedule shake-up
Next article Russian GP: Raikkonen says Ferrari struggled with tyres
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Jenson Button
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Formula 1
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Latest news
Lamborghini World Finals PRO-PRO/AM Race 2: Leitch/Stasi dominate to seal title
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
24 min
Lamborghini World Finals PRO-PRO/AM Race 2: Leitch/Stasi dominate to seal title
Toto Wolff reveals he is actively vetting “two or three people” to replace him at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
41 min
Toto Wolff reveals he is actively vetting “two or three people” to replace him at Mercedes
Dakar Rally moves 2027 event out of Saudi Arabia; new location to be announced
Dakar
DAKR Dakar 1 h
Dakar Rally moves 2027 event out of Saudi Arabia; new location to be announced
Lamborghini World Finals AM-LC Race 2: Lewandowski wins again to seal title
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
1 h
Lamborghini World Finals AM-LC Race 2: Lewandowski wins again to seal title
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe