Button blasts ‘pathetic’ penalty over radio messages

Jenson Button has branded the drive-through he received for unauthorised radio messages at the Hungarian Grand Prix as “pathetic”, with the McLaren-Honda driver arguing he and his team were trying to fix a safety-related issue.

Button was running eighth in the early laps of the race when he reported that his brake pedal was going to the floor. His engineer immediately told him “do not shit, do not shift, we have lost hydraulic power”.

The FIA’s revised radio rules state that team can inform the driver of an “indication of a problem with the car”, but add that “any message of this sort must include an irreversible instruction to enter the pits to rectify the problem or to retire the car.”

Button did pit shortly after receiving the message but hardly had the 2009 world champion got going again that he was hit with a penalty.

“We had a drive-through for that, even though I was last, and we pitted because if you have information on track you have to drive through the pits and we did that but, I mean, I don’t think it really mattered when I was last, getting a drive-through,” Button said.

“We’re told that if you have a problem you have to pit, I’m guessing you have to pit earlier than we did.”

Button adds that he is not entirely against having restrictions on radio communications but the 36-year-old wishes common sense prevailed in their enforcement.

“There are certain things I like with drivers not being allowed to ask how quick their teammate is, or whether they should rub their arse on certain corners or pick their nose but for me I think it’s pathetic that you get penalised for stopping an incident.

“When you have a power unit that’s so complex a driver can’t figure everything out for himself and when your brake pedal goes to the floor I think that’s a safety concern, so I don’t think you should get punished for fixing a safety concern that could end in an accident.”

Button eventually retired with an oil leak.

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AS IT HAPPENED: Hungarian Grand Prix

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