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Daniil Kvyat has defended 2009 world champion Jenson Button as the Brit makes a once off race appearance at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. Button arrives in place for Fernando Alonso who has chosen to skip the race to instead compete in the Indy 500.
Yesterday was the first time that Jenson drove the MCL32, while some pursed their lips when they heard that he chose to not take part in the first in-season test in Bahrain in April.
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"There was an opportunity to do half a day in Bahrain, which I thought was absolutely useless for me to do, a completely different type of circuit, so I said to the team I think it’s best if I do a few days in the simulator," Button said. "Obviously, there are drivers who love the simulator, so I was raring to go!"
Kvyat has spoken in defence of the semi-retired racer: "He is not trying to win a world championship, so one race doesn't mean anything. If he is successful, great, but if he is not, there is nothing wrong with that because he can say that he was not able to be ready. So Jenson has nothing to gain and nothing to lose."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen also said that he was in no position to pass any judgment on Button: "If Jenson wants to prepare in that way, it's his choice," Verstappensaid. "I cannot pass judgement. I'm not in the same position with his 17 years of experience."
Fergal Walsh
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C. Sainz jr
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It didnt look like he suffered from not taking that opportunity.