Button comes good

By James Foxall

09th August 2006

Britain’s Jenson Button has admitted that winning his first-ever grand prix was easy. The Honda driver took his and the Japanese team’s debut victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, after coming through from 14th on the grid.

Button said: “The last 10 laps were fantastic. I just enjoyed myself and let it sink in. I wasn’t pushing the car or the engine, and I knew I would get home safe. I was just thinking about what to say in the press conference really. This will take a big weight off my shoulders.

He continued: “I think probably 10 laps from the end – when I was leading by around 40 seconds – I had a hint that I was going to win the race. But I was looking at the clouds down the main straight, and there was a big, big black cloud up there.

“That’s why I was keen to build up such a big gap, in case I had to come in and change back to intermediate tyres.” Button’s win was all the more admirable given the setback in qualifying when his engine blew, losing him 10 places on the grid.

He was joined on the podium by McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld of BMW. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher edged closer to championship leader Fernando Alonso in the title tussle. The Spaniard had been leading when a damaged wheelnut flew off, causing him to crash. Schumacher had a turbulent race, roaring through the field at the start, before being constrained by the poor wet weather performance of his Bridgestone tyres. He retired with three laps to go, but the disqualification of BMW’s Polish newcomer Robert Kubica from seventh meant that he scored a single point.

Schumacher said: “Of course, I am very disappointed. We had a great opportunity, but we did not take it. My front track rod broke as Heidfeld went past. There are still five races to go. Nothing is yet lost, and I will give it my all in trying to win the title.”