Jenson Button says McLaren is expecting a tough start to the 2015 season but is motivated by the fact that “there could be something very special on the horizon”.
McLaren’s new partnership with Honda as power unit supplier endured a tough pre-season as reliability issues resulted in the MP4-30 completing very limited mileage. Button admits the problems are likely to make the start of the season difficult, but he says McLaren is “unbelievably excited” about the team’s potential.
“Yes I do know it’s going to be a tough start but it’s also very different,” Button said. “The last two years have not been the easiest seasons for us, but I think the difference with this year is the understanding that there could be something very special on the horizon with McLaren Honda.
“With the new partnership I think the whole team is unbelievably excited about what could happen in the future, but we also understand that there’s a lot of work needed before we even start thinking too much about winning races, even podiums and fighting for the world championship.”
And Button admits McLaren may have to take a more long-term approach to this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix rather than chase a headline result in Melbourne.
“For us we want to win races and scraping in to the points here doesn't interest us whatsoever. It’s the future of this team which is interesting and we’ll always go out to do our best because we’re here to race and do the best we can but also the better we do the more experience we gain of how the car is and try to maximise the package we have.
“I think the important thing for us is seeing big gains throughout the year. It’s not being consistently in the points, it’s seeing big gains and hopefully fighting for victories. It’s always going to be very difficult in a season where Mercedes starts so strong; at the moment you would say you can’t really see anyone else winning races for the flyaways, so it’s always going to be tricky but I think you’ll see big gains from us throughout the year, which is exciting.”
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