McLaren driver Jenson Button not expecting podiums

McLaren driver Jenson Button F1

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McLaren driver Jenson Button has conceded his team are not expecting any podium finishes this season.

Button and team-mate Fernando Alonso were forced to retire in Canada last time out as both drivers suffered exhaust problems.

Engine suppliers Honda have come in for heavy criticism in recent weeks, but Button says both McLaren and the Japanese manufacturer should share the blame for his team’s dismal campaign to date.

“We are one team, it is not Honda and McLaren, we are one team. McLaren chose to work with Honda and Honda chose to work with McLaren – that is the way it is,” said the 2009 world champion.

“If we had the most powerful engine out there we still wouldn’t win any races right now because the car still has lots of areas where we need to improve.

“When you are driving around at the back and asked to do fuel saving all the time, of course it is difficult – I want to be at the front. I don’t want to be lapped on lap 25.

“McLaren has a lot of experience in Formula 1 and Honda understand that and are really listening to McLaren in terms of helping them to progress and you will see the difference in every race we go to each year.”

Button has picked up McLaren’s only points so far this season with an eighth-place finish in Monaco but concedes he does not expect to be challenging at the front of the grid in 2015.

Alonso has already stated he now sees the current season as preparation for next year and Button also believes McLaren will be stronger in 2016.

He added: “We won’t get a podium this year. Next year will be a lot more exciting than 2015 but you cannot just jump to 2016, you have to do the work, otherwise you don’t deserve the good results.”

Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton is the current championship leader as he bids for back-to-back world titles and the British star is 4.50 to win the Sports Personality of the Year 2015.

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