Jenson Button has described his Japanese Grand Prix performance as “pretty horrific” after the McLaren-Honda star could only manage 18th place, two spots behind his team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Having already qualified a lowly 17th, Button dropped to the back of the grid as he received the upgraded Honda power unit and the 35-place grid penalty associated with it.
After suffering a lot of wheelspin at lights out, the 2009 world champion did not make much progress through his opening stint and with no retirement nor rain at Suzuka was limited to a fairly modest recovery.
“I finished 18th so it’s pretty horrific, though I still had some fun, a few little battles,” Button said. “Still 16th and 18th for us are a long way behind points, it's been a very tough day and a very tough weekend.
“It was really difficult to get past the Manors [at the start], they were on soft tyres and I was on the hard compound but I ended up passing them in the end.
“It’s a shame that [Suzuka] is our bogey track because it’s our second home. When I saw 18 on the board on the lap lap. I was actually surprised. I did not think it was that bad.”
Button said last month that McLaren could be challenging the likes of Ferrari by the end of 2016 as a result of power unit and fuel upgrades.
The 36-year-old insists the team will not let its setback on Honda’s home turf dampen its hopes of a strong finish to the season.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to be as good in Sepang or Spa. We were not quick here but the next race we will be, it can’t be all good.”
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