Button says Lotus car to beat in Monaco

McLaren's Jenson Button has named Lotus as the team to beat in Monaco. After Romain Grosjean was second fastest in both practice sessions on Thursday, Button's teammate Lewis Hamilton concurred that the "Lotus looks pretty good". "Normally, there are seven tenths between the two tyre compounds," said the 2008 world champion. "Jenson was only four tenths ahead of Grosjean."

Button agreed: "Whenever they are going out, they are at the front. So I think that at the moment the Lotus is the car to beat," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "That laptime of 1.16.1 is very quick on the hard tyre." The Briton is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper: "It'll be tough to beat them."

In light of Lotus' apparent strength this weekend, Pirelli's Paul Hembery mocked those purists who think the constantly-changing race winners in 2012 are damaging the sport. "(I'm) worried that Jenson said Lotus looking good in Monaco," he wrote on Twitter. "We risk a sixth winner in a different car. Disaster. Kimi and Romain, please do not win." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team McLaren
  • Points 37
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 41
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 19 1980 (46)
  • Place of b. Frome, Somerset, GB
  • Weight 72 kg
  • Length 1.82 m
Show full profile

Team profile

  • Team name Pirelli
  • Base Milan, Italy
Show full profile
show sidebar