British failure again for Jenson Button
Monday 11th July 2011
Jenson Button was left to reflect on yet another British Grand Prix failure after a pit-lane error cost him the chance of a first ever podium finish in front of his home fans.
The 2009 world champion has enjoyed many great days in the sport since his debut in 2000, but Silverstone has never been a happy hunting ground and Sunday's disappointment means he is now without a top-three finish in twelve races at the Northamptonshire track.
The latest blight on his Silverstone record came on lap 40 of Sunday's enthralling race, which was won by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, when his team failed to secure his right-front wheel at a pit stop and Button was forced to grind to a halt just a few hundred yards after peeling away from his garage.
"When I headed out, as I turned up hill the wheel came off," Button explained. "It's very disappointing.
"We all make mistakes but you always hope they will never happen."
Prior to the incident, Button's pace had been strong enough to keep him in contention for a podium finish despite a poor opening stint on intermediate tyres, the legacy of a rain shower in the hour before the race got under way.
Button's podium bid - and that of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton - was made despite the team appearing to suffer most from the ruling made in the run-up to the race that restricted the use of the controversial exhaust-blown diffuser.
Diluting the effects of the component, which improves grip at the rear of the car, almost certainly played a part in Button's early labours in the damp conditions, but as the track dried the car started to come to the 31-year-old and he was homing in on Red Bull's Mark Webber at the time of his retirement.
"It's disappointing because it was in front of the home crowd - good couple of battles out there and the pace was very good before my stop," Button continued.
"It was all looking pretty sweet and I think I would have come out alongside Mark, if not ahead of Mark, when I made my pit stop.
"So much could have happened and there's always the possibility of a podium when you are that far up and the pace is good."
Button added: "Sorry to the fans. I wish we could have done more but it seems that way for me at the British Grand Prix in the last few years."
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh refused to chastise the pit -crew member who cost Button a shot at the podium.
"On this occasion it was a case of human error in the heat of the moment," said Whitmarsh.
"Jenson drove an excellent race, and I think he could well have bagged a podium finish had it not been for the pit-stop mix-up that prematurely ended his race.
"We musn't be too hard on individuals. I know he's being very hard on himself right now.
"Our pit crew have done a fantastic job all year, but on this occasion it was a case of human error in the heat of the moment.
"We mustn't be too hard on individuals. I know he's being very hard on himself right now. You can imagine, you can pinpoint it.
"Often when something goes wrong you can't, but this is an unfortunate one that can be pinpointed on an individual who is doing his best."
McLaren at least picked up some points courtesy of Hamilton, who could also have been on the podium but for being forced to save fuel over the final fifteen laps after his early charge.
Hamilton climbed from 10th to fifth inside three laps courtesy of a number of fine moves, and was within a second of the lead later in the race.
However, in a car struggling for pace in fuel-saving mode, he dropped to fourth, holding off Ferrari's Felipe Massa in a thrilling last-lap duel.
Spurred on by the 120,000-plus Silverstone crowd in light of the recent negativity that has surrounded him, Hamilton, who along with Button is 95 points adrift of championship leader Vettel, said: "The fans were phenomenal.
"That's the thing with the fans, whether we are winning or losing, they are with you all the way, and I just can't wait for the time we are at the front and we are able to win for them."
Whitmarsh insisted he was not considering his own position despite the problems which affected his drivers.
He told the Daily Telegraph: "I am confident I will stay in my job. I answer to the board - not just [group chairman] Ron [Dennis] - any they seem happy with the job I am doing - certainly for now.
"But for sure it was not one of the best grands prix I have ever had. We don't want to let the fans down and we did."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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