Jenson Button expects to make a step forward during FP3 and qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix as he takes a newer specification power unit.
The McLaren driver says he was running a high-mileage old specification Honda unit during Friday practice, where he ended up almost a second slower than team-mate Fernando Alonso. However, Button says he will receive the same unit as Alonso in final practice and hopes to move up as a result.
“I think Fernando had a reasonable balance – we were on a different spec of engine," Button said. "I was running on an older spec of engine at the end of its life. We should be able to find more performance – hopefully we’ll be up where Fernando was [in FP2], and then you have a good fight on our hands to try to get into Q3."
And Button expects a tough fight to finish in the points on Sunday but is looking forward to being able to battle with other cars.
“On our long-run pace, the first three teams are so fast, a couple of seconds quicker than the rest. So we’ll do the best we can [in FP3] and Sunday and see where we stand. I’m looking forward to it though. It’s going to be much more exciting than the last two races were, because at least we’re in the fight here. I think we’ll be in the middle of the pack, hopefully.”
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