New boy Button endures shaky start

JENSON BUTTON and Fernando Alonso experienced two starkly different debuts with their new teams yesterday, and for the reigning world champion it proved to be an uncomfortable day.

Both Button and Alonso have had time to settle in and adapt to life with McLaren and Ferrari respectively, yet there was a gaping chasm between them in terms of time at the end of their first test day.

Alonso slotted into his car with consummate ease, to such an extent that within 25 laps he had already surpassed the previous best time of the week posted on Tuesday by team-mate Felipe Massa.