25th Jul 2013 | Formula 1
Hungarian GP Tips: Jenson Button
Showed good pace during two long stints on the medium tyre in Germany; could give McLaren a tactical advantage.
It has been a grim season for McLaren but at the Nurburgring there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel. Both cars finished in the top-8 for the first time all year with Jenson Button only 28sec behind the race winner.
Particularly impressive was Button’s pace on the medium tyre compound. Not only was it comparable to Sebastian Vettel’s lap times, the McLaren was consistently quick throughout both stints.
The result would have been even better but for McLaren pitting Button too early for soft tyres at the end of the race. The British driver was forced to run 13 laps on the soft compound, 5 laps too many. The tyres ‘fell off the cliff’ and he lost seven seconds in just five laps, which cost him fifth spot.
The medium compound is again the prime tyre this weekend, which gives McLaren an edge in strategy. At the Nurburgring McLaren ran long stints without a notable drop off in performance, handy for the Hungaroring where it is notoriously difficult to overtake.
Jenson Button could play the long game and make fewer pit-stops than his rivals. At 150/1 (Boylesports) he looks a good each-way bet with 1/5 odds for a podium finish.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 17:06 25th Jul, 2013 but subject to change
