Jenson Button says finishing sixth at the Austrian Grand Prix was a “much better result” than what McLaren-Honda had hoped for, even if the 2009 world champion lined up third on the grid.
The British team and Japanese manufacturer entered the Spielberg weekend braced for a tough outing around the power-sensitive Red Bull Ring.
Button had starred in a wet-to-dry qualifying but with Sunday’s race taking place in dry conditions the Briton was not expecting to stay at the sharp end of the field very long, though he beat Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg off the line.
“I had a good start, did not quite win the first lap, which was my aim,” Button said. “We had Brits one and two [he was behind Lewis Hamilton] for seven laps, but then I could not hold it any longer than that.
“As soon as one got past, they just all came past, overtaking in places you would not expect. Out of turn three, who overtakes out of turn three? And into turn four. The drag they have, the way they can drag past is too easy.
“When everyone’s got DRS, it’s really difficult. They are pulling two cars’ length in the middle of the straight. It’s very very difficult. In certain times, it was really frustrating but we still had some great battles out there and to come home sixth is much better that whan we’d hoped. We though eighth was probably on the cards.
“To beat Williams, to beat Haas, to beat Force India… we should be very happy with what we've come from today.”
Button does not want to get carried away with his Austrian GP showing, saying a repeat performance on home soil next weekend is highly unlikely. Unless the often fickle local weather helps him spring a surprise again.
“Silverstone is going to be tough. It’s not going to be like this, qualifying fifth and finishing sixth unless it’s weird conditions. But it’s the UK so obviously the weather is going to be terrible and I look forward to that.”
REPORT: Hamilton snatches win from Rosberg on final lap
AS IT HAPPENED: Austrian Grand Prix
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