McLaren get prepared for further frustrating times ahead

After winning this race three times in the last four seasons, and in the wake of how strongly McLaren finished last year’s campaign, hopes were high the team would start on the front foot. But after taking a radical approach over the winter with a car the team are struggling to understand, ninth place was something of a minor triumph for Button come the conclusion of the 58-lap race at Melbourne’s Albert Park.

Starting 10th and a woeful three seconds off the pace of pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel, Button finished one minute and 21 seconds adrift of Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen by the chequered flag.

With the second race in Malaysia just a week away, the 33-year-old is not anticipating any change by then, and probably not even for the challenges that follow in China and Bahrain next month.

If McLaren head to the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in early May still scratching their heads, Button can kiss goodbye to any hopes of a championship challenge.

“It was good to get a couple of points, but it doesn’t really ease the pain,” said Button.

“At this stage we still have to aim for the world championship. That has to be the target when you drive for McLaren. But it’s going to be very difficult for us from where we are, a lot harder than we thought this year.

“For us to get back to the front, it’s not going to be whilst we’re racing outside Europe, but we’ve got what we have and we’re going to deal with it the best we can and push hard for improvements.

“With Malaysia next weekend we’re not going to do much before then other than hopefully understand the car a little more and extract a bit more performance.”

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh has admitted the problems with the car are many, and not just concerning one particular issue. It has led to suggestions the team may even turn to last year’s car that won the last two races in the United States and Brazil. But Whitmarsh is not throwing in the towel on this year’s car yet though.

“We’ve really got to learn about this car, work the problems out and solve them,” said Whitmarsh.

“It isn’t good enough at the moment and although I’m sure we’ll get it right, we might not get it right as quickly as I would like.”