No morale issues at McLaren as Button targets Monza win

Jenson Button believes McLaren proved morale is high within the team after setting the pace in practice for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix.

Despite the media attention focused on McLaren, in particular on team-mate Lewis Hamilton, the Woking-based marque conjured a one-two in the second 90-minute session.

Hamilton, in the spotlight as he mulls over whether to stay with McLaren or end his 14-year association with the team and join Mercedes, was quickest with a lap of one minute 25.290secs.

Button, who finished second fastest in both sessions, was just 0.038secs adrift as he looks to build on his victory in Belgium last week.

Button, runner-up in the last three races at Monza, said: “The morale in the team is good, we just want to race.

“I’ve shown whatever is going on off the circuit, it doesn’t matter, you have to focus on the job in hand.”

Button lies 63 points adrift of championship leader Fernando Alonso and 16 behind Hamilton.

Alonso, despite suffering a gearbox issue, was in close attendance on his team’s home turf as he was 0.058secs down on Hamilton.

History was made in the morning session when Ma Qing Hua became the first driver from China to take part in a F1 weekend.