Button hits back over Hamilton’s criticism

Jenson Button has been left stunned by former team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s veiled criticism of life at McLaren.

Since moving to Mercedes at the start of the year, Hamilton has revelled in freedoms he says were not prevalent at McLaren, a team where he spent 13 years, the last six of those in Formula 1.

Earlier this week, Hamilton said: “I have come from a place with a lot of control, a really controlled environment where you are restricted to do and say what you are told.”

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Although McLaren’s image of being staid and corporate has changed markedly since Ron Dennis stepped down as team principal a few years ago, that perception remains in the eyes of some.

Hamilton’s comments do not help, but Button claims they could not be further from the truth.

Asked about Hamilton’s remarks ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this weekend, Button said: “Yeah, I was very surprised to hear that.

“The freedom you have in this team is phenomenal, and that doesn’t just go for me.

“In this team you have to work, probably harder than you would at other teams, at sponsor requests and what have you. This is an F1 team that is not a mass-production manufacturer.”