Former McLaren team-mates go wheel-to-wheel at Monza
Sunday 7 September 2014 18:06, UK
Jenson Button says he really enjoyed his race-long battle with Sergio Perez at the Italian GP, even though he ultimately finished behind the Mexican.
The McLaren and Force India drivers spent much of the race wheel-to-wheel as they fought over the lower points with the pair eventually classified seventh and eighth.
The duo were team-mates during 2013 and Button was impressed by how much Perez’s driving has improved since he left the Woking outfit.
"I don't think I could have had that battle with Chceo last year, but as rivals in different teams it seemed to work pretty well," Button told Sky Sports F1.
"It is a shame that I couldn't get past him, I tried so many times but he was so good on the brakes I was locking up fronts and rears trying to match him which really put me in a bad position for the next corner. But I enjoyed, it was a lot of fun and hopefully great TV and great wheel-to-wheel action with a lot of drivers so great to see some nice clean racing.
"It is something that last year as team-mates it might have ended up a bit different, but I have a lot of respect for the guy, he drove really well and I really enjoyed the fight with him.
"We all want to win, in any category you want to win and only one guy can do that and if you can't then this is awesome, this is what racing is all about, I really enjoyed."
Button had started the race in sixth spot, one place behind team-mate Kevin Magnussen and the Briton admits it was disappointing neither driver could improve on, or even hold onto, those spots in the race.
"We're not just looking for points, when you start fifth and sixth you expect a bit more," he added.
"I think if we had had a clear run we would have been alright, but we just found it really difficult in traffic and people were able to pick us off a lot easier than we could pick off the cars in front. I mean the Red Bull under braking was just tremendous, whereas we were bouncing all over the place and locking fronts and rears which made it very difficult.
"But there is a lot to take away from this weekend and a lot we can take forward. Singapore is next we should have a reasonable package there which should be good."
Button's four points for eighth sees him move above Nico Hulkenberg and into seventh in the Drivers' Championship, whilst McLaren's advantage over Force India in the constructors' standings has been cut to a solitary point.
