Still among F1's grandee teams, there are signs McLaren needs to up its game if it wants to win its first title since 2008 in the near future. Indeed, the British team is losing its last champion, Lewis Hamilton, to Mercedes next year, leaving Jenson Button as the senior driver.
But Button said in Abu Dhabi: "Since I've been here, this has been the worst year. It's been tricky, even on good weekends. "We've had a problem pretty much every weekend lately. We need to stop it. I don't get it," he added. "I'm not happy with where it is at the moment. But hopefully next year will be perfect."
On Sunday, pole sitter Hamilton's MP4-27 failed as he commandingly led in Abu Dhabi, but team boss Martin Whitmarsh blamed the problem on engine supplier Mercedes. Hamilton, however, said there have also been "failures and issues with pitstops and so on". "If my car was as reliable as Sebastian (Vettel)'s or Fernando (Alonso)'s I would be right up with them now," he insisted. "Maybe ahead, who knows."
The man who will replace Hamilton at McLaren next year is Sergio Perez, who according to Whitmarsh earned the seat due to his "giant killing" performances for Sauber this year. But since the Mexican's 2013 deal was announced, 22-year-old Perez's form has slipped dramatically.
Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn played down the link between Perez's recent struggle for points and his impending team switch, describing it as a "coincidence". "There's nothing we can reproach him for because he's trying his best to do something good for the team before he leaves," she is quoted by the Independent. "But we definitely will talk to him."
Indeed, Whitmarsh admitted there is no guarantee Perez will thrive once he is thrust under the spotlight at McLaren. "There have been drivers who have talent, can live with that pressure and deliver, and others that can't," he said. "It would be foolish of me to sit here and say that in taking a very young driver there is not an element of risk."
Button agreed, saying: "Obviously it's very difficult to know what he (Perez) brings to the team, because he's not there yet. With Lewis leaving, obviously the team loses a very fast driver. It is a big loss but things change and you move on and adapt. I think Sergio will be fast but I really don't know," he added. (GMM)
Order your McLaren merchandise here!
Pressure on McLaren to up game for 2013
- Published on 06 Nov 2012 12:43
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why Coulthard thinks Lawson proved his doubters wrong at ZandvoortLiam Lawson has earned high praise from former Red Bull driver David Coulthard after filling in for the senior team a...
27 Aug 2026 15:18 -
Why Ralf Schumacher believes Piastri is no longer a team leader candidateOscar Piastri has become McLaren's second driver following a difficult start to the 2026 season, according to Ral...
27 Aug 2026 16:19 -
Antonelli reveals emotional moment racing childhood hero VerstappenAndrea Kimi Antonelli has admitted he fought back tears the first time he raced wheel-to-wheel against Max Verstappen...
27 Aug 2026 14:16 -
Why McLaren's Stella doesn't believe Mercedes money excuseAndrea Stella expects Mercedes to accelerate its development programme imminently, despite Toto Wolff's insistenc...
27 Aug 2026 13:15 -
Why Red Bull keeps turning to Lawson during Hadjar's recoveryLiam Lawson has been handed additional track time by Red Bull Racing, completing a day of Pirelli tyre testing at Mug...
27 Aug 2026 12:13
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
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
- 67,124 comments on McLaren
23 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Jenson Button
Team profile
- Team name Sauber
- Base - Switzerland
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Felipe Massa 8
- Marcus Ericsson 9
- Nico Hülkenberg 11
- Felipe Nasr 12
- Esteban Gutierrez 12
- Felipe Massa 12
- Felipe Massa 12
- Kamui Kobayashi 14
- Sergio Perez 15
- Charles Leclerc 16
- Kamui Kobayashi 16
- Sergio Perez 17
- Kimi Räikkönen 17
- Esteban Gutierrez 21
- Kamui Kobayashi 23
- Guanyu Zhou 24
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Antonio Giovinazzi 36
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Pascal Wehrlein 94
- Adrian Sutil 99
- 115,816 comments on Sauber
- 5 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Sauber
Replies (0)
Login to reply