Canadian GP - Post-race press conference - Pt.2

Drivers: Jenson Button (McLaren), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), Mark Webber (Red Bull)
26.05.2011- First Practice Session, Jenson Button (GBR), McLaren Mercedes, MP4-26
26.05.2011- First Practice Session, Jenson Button (GBR), McLaren Mercedes…
© PHOTO 4

Questions from the floor

Q: (Mattias Brunner - Speedweek)
For all of you: the safety periods, suspending the race, was everything in order from your perspective?

Jenson Button:
For Seb, I'm sure it was easy, sat behind the safety car, but for me, back in the pack, especially when it was very very wet, it was good to have the safety car out because I couldn't see in front of my visor. I think they timed it pretty well. I think they've got it down to a tee now with understanding how long the safety car should be out, so yeah I think they did a good job.

Sebastian Vettel:
I think it was fine. Obviously they need to make the decisions for all of us, not just for one team or one driver only. It's difficult here to access the track when you have a car crashed or parts on the track which we had in the end. I think they kept everything under control and safe for us.

Mark Webber:
I think they deserve huge credit. When they get it wrong, everyone kills them but today they did everything perfectly, virtually within a lap. They didn't mess around, they got on with it, did a very very good job for all of us. They had a very good understanding or feeling of the car so bloody good job from the guys up there to help us out today and yet still have a good car race, so they did a good job.

Q: (Livio Oricchio - O Estado do Sao Paulo)
Jenson, it's important to hear your point of view about the incident with Alonso and Hamilton.

Jenson Button:
It is but I need to speak to the stewards first. I will be going to see the stewards after this so I think it's best if I wait until I see them before I give an opinion.

Q: (Mark Shalhoub - CJAD 80DRadio)
Jenson, did you feel like you had a bullseye on your car out there with those two incidents or was it just circumstance?

Jenson Button:
No, I think there were lots of incidents today. It's a very very slippery circuit here, especially with the wet tyres, the first time that we've driven here in the wet for many years; I think 2003 was the last time. It's a very very slippery surface here, and a lot of people were finding it difficult to judge braking and also it's impossible to see in your mirrors when it's wet. I think there were incidents that you don't like to see, obviously, but sometimes it just happens.

Q: (Michael Schmidt - Auto, Motor und Sport)
Jenson, how much of a help was it that you had this big wing on and why did you benefit more in the dry at the end? You would think it was a bigger benefit in the wet.

Jenson Button:
I don't personally think that we had a big wing on, compared to other people. I think that we have a very good car mechanically, which works in these conditions, but I personally don't feel that we had a big wing on compared to other people. I think that some other people have got a more efficient DRS system in qualifying spec, but in race spec I think our rear wing is more efficient than theirs because that's the trade-off you have with the rear wings, with the DRS system. But as I said, mechanically our car is very good and we proved that in Monaco and we see that again here, especially when there's low grip on the circuit.

Q: (Dominic Fugere - Rue Frontenac)
Jenson, we heard someone on your channel saying 'alright, let's go, we've gotta go win this race.' Was that you, somebody in the pits?

Jenson Button:
It was Dave, Dave my engineer, Dave Robson, Comedy Dave - we've stolen that [name] from Radio One in England. Yeah, it's the first race we've won together, because last year we weren't working... well, he was actually working with me but as the second engineer, the data engineer, so this is the first race we've won together as chief engineer on my car. So yeah, a tough day for him, with all the different calls and what have you. He was obviously very hyped up. I wasn't going to say that on the radio. I don't say that until I'm across the finish line. It was nice for him to say and I think it was just to rev me up a little bit, not that I really needed it in the race today.

Q: (Pino Azzurro - Corriere Italiano Montreal)
Jenson, you won a fantastic race, how would you rate this win among all your wins?

Jenson Button:
The most action I've had in a Grand Prix, probably, and come away with a win. My first Grand Prix win was pretty special as it always would be and it was a very similar situation with the weather but I would personally say this - I'm going to say that because I'm emotionally attached to this win because it's just happened - but I would say this race is the best one I've had in my career.

Q: (Pino Azzurro - Corriere Italiano Montreal)
Sebastian, in the last five laps of the race, Jenson was gaining a second and a half on you. You gave us the impression that you were basically saving your tyres or your car. Any issues with the tyres at all?

Sebastian Vettel:
No issues. As I said earlier, as I touched on, after the safety car I probably wasn't aggressive enough because to me initially, there was no need. As it turned out, I would have been much better off. After that, when I saw Jenson behind, I kept him fairly close and yes, he was very quick, I'm not saying that, but it wasn't a second per lap any more. I think it was then within a couple of tenths. It would have been very close but with the mistake I made, it was not.

Q: (Jeff Pappone - Globe and Mail)
Jenson, you mentioned earlier you're going to enjoy this moment and then see what happens; how concerned are you about the meeting with the stewards later?

Jenson Button:
I'm not concerned at all because personally I don't feel that I've done anything wrong. I'm not concerned but you never know what the outcome is going to be.

Q: (Mattias Brunner - Speedweek)
For the Red Bull drivers, how was KERS this afternoon?

Mark Webber:
On and off.

Sebastian Vettel:
Yes, it was in the car. On and off.

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