Jenson Button is thrilled with his win in Australia, and his first win for the McLaren team, exclaiming: “I just want to run around and scream.”
“This victory means so much to me. A Grand Prix win in a McLaren. Sounds good, doesn’t it? It’s just the most amazing experience.”
Button confessed there was some luck involved in his win, but also noted his quick thinking regarding slicks. He also admitted a certain amount of regret over the decision when he ran off the track as he left the pits.
“You might say we were lucky in some ways,” added Button, “but I think we just made the right calls – and that’s so important nowadays. It’s not just about speed, it’s about making the right calls, being consistent and conserving the car.
“It was a necessary move to pit for slicks. I was struggling for grip on the Inters, and the rears were destroying themselves very quickly, so we figured it must be time for dries. As I drove down the pitlane, I could see it was soaking wet and I feared it was a massive mistake on my part. When I left the pits, I went off the circuit and just thought, ‘Oh no!’
“But I got to grips with it pretty quickly, and soon started to feel really good in the car.”
The 30-year-old then went on to thank the McLaren team for the great job they did.
“I want to say a massive thank-you to the whole Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team: they’ve done a brilliant job.
“To not only be on the podium, but to be on the top step, after just two races, is amazing. It’s crucial to get the big points when perhaps we don’t have the out-and-out pace: these are really important points to us. Now we’ve really got to get our heads down and hopefully turn up in Malaysia next week with an even better car.”
