Slick Button reflects on key tyre call

Jenson Button feared he had made a “catastrophic” decision after switching to slick tyres early in yesterday’s Australian Grand Prix – a move which ultimately proved an inspired choice as he secured his first win with McLaren.

The race got off to a dramatic start as Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso – winner of the season opener in Bahrain two weeks ago – spun at turn one on the first lap after hitting Button and then the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher.

A crash between BMW Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi and Williams’ Nico Hulkenberg brought the safety car out and once it left at the end of lap five, Button made the call to enter the pits first and switch to slicks.

With the circuit still damp from the rain that had fallen shortly before the start of the race, it initially appeared as though he had acted prematurely as he struggled on the dry tyres, taking a brief detour on the gravel on his out lap.

But as the track dried he soon took control to surge up to second and then claimed the lead for good when Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel again endured a mechanical problem that brought an end to his race.

“I thought I’d made a catastrophic decision and I feared it was a massive mistake on my part because it was soaking wet there – and when I left the pits, I went off the circuit and just thought, ’oh no’.” said the reigning world champion.

“I got to grips with it pretty quickly, though, and soon started to feel really good in the car – and once I got it going and up to speed after my little ’off’ at turn three, the pace was pretty good.

“I was able to put in some good laps and overtake three or four cars when they stopped to put slick tyres on. It was the right call, and I’m very happy that I made it. I caught up behind Sebastian, I conserved the tyres, I built a useful gap and we came away with a victory.”

The victory was all the more impressive considering it was just Button’s second race for McLaren since making the switch from Brawn GP.

“I want to say a massive thank you to the whole McLaren-Mercedes team - they’ve done a brilliant job,” he added. “To not only be on the podium, but to be on the top step, after just two races is amazing.

“I don’t know what to say really. It is very difficult to put it into words. It’s a very special feeling and we’ll take a lot from this.”