Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Long straights in Montreal will be tricky for McLaren-Honda

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Jenson Button's first championship points of the 2015 season which he collected in Monaco last weekend were a welcome boost to McLaren-Honda's troubled spirit, but the former World Champion now heads to North America recommending a cautious stance.

While the partnership between the McLaren and Honda continues its difficult work in progress, Jenson Button and team mate Fernando Alonso remain hopeful of a breakthrough in both reliability and performance which would hike up the team's chances of becoming a consistent points challenger.

"Every race we have gained a couple of places in qualifying, we've got closer and closer, a general step forward we've had every race," Button told Autosport.

But the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, given its specific features, may well only compound the problems presently facing both drivers. “I think we understand the car very well and Canada is mostly low speed corners, but there are a couple of long straights which will be tricky for us. It is a circuit that won't suit us well. But you never know, we might still get some points there."

Fernando Alonso has yet to score championship points this season after being sidelined with reliability issues in the majority of his outings in 2015.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.