Jenson Button says former team-mate Kevin Magnussen has been “really helpful” since losing out to the 2009 world champion for the second McLaren-Honda race seat.
After winning the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2013, the Dane made his F1 debut alongside Button last year. His rookie season included a maiden podium in Australia but the 22-year-old eventually had to settle for a reserve driver role in 2015 following Fernando Alonso’s return to Woking.
While Magnussen subbed for the sidelined Spaniard in Melbourne, he has since gradually slipped behind fellow McLaren protégé and dominant GP2 Series leader Stoffel Vandoorne in the media limelight.
Button agrees the Belgian is “obviously very quick” and “doing a very good job at the moment”, yet strongly believes that Magnussen should not be ruled out.
“They’re both very, very talented,” said the 35-year-old in the latest Grid 1 TV video update. “The thing is you can’t forget Kevin. He has raced one season in Formula One.
“I was amazed at how much Kevin has learned in one year in F1. He’s there at every race, putting blocks together of comparison with us and other cars, with me and Fernando.
“He’s been really helpful to me, considering that we were both fighting for a seat last year.”
Exclusive Q&A with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner
Click here for a gallery of the biggest crashes at Spa-Francorchamps
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Franco Colapinto’s management opted for an extraordinary defensive maneuver after the Alpine driver’s clash with…
F1 The Movie took a victory lap on Sunday evening at the 98th Academy Awards,…
German driver Hans Heyer was born on this day in 1943, and while his main…
McLaren endured a bitterly frustrating weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix as both of its…
Kyle Kirkwood delivered a masterpiece on Sunday in the shadows of AT&T Stadium, proving that…
While Max Verstappen continues to wage a verbal war against Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, Mercedes…