Jenson Button proud of first 2015 points
ByAutoSport
Updated 24/05/2015 at 19:44 GMT
Jenson Button declared himself "proud" of McLaren-Honda's breakthrough points-scoring Monaco Grand Prix, and hopes it will be a "stepping stone" to bigger results in Formula 1.
McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain
Image credit: Reuters
The Briton was disappointed not to make Q3 on Saturday, qualifying 12th, but he eventually finished a comfortable eighth, and he said while points were the target the result exceeded expectations.
"It was a positive day for us," said Button. "We didn't expect to finish eighth, so it's a good performance and I'm very proud of the whole team.
"It's been a very difficult year and it's not suddenly going to leap us forward to winning.
"We need a win, but this is a great stepping stone to winning in the future.
"We've made progress every race but when you score points, that's when people notice."
The 2009 world champion accepts the team is still "lacking in outright performance" but he was pleased with how its pace stacked up compared to the frontrunners.
"There are a few things we need to work on but I don't think our pace was too bad," he added. "So I was relatively happy with the day.
"Hopefully this will carry us forward to better things.
"We've got the best guys in the world and it still takes time.
"It's not a turning point but I think it's just general progress. Hopefully you'll see us pick up points in the next few races."
Button's McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso endured another frustrating race, retiring with a gearbox problem.
The Spaniard was running ninth, one place behind Button, when his MP4-30's gearbox got stuck in neutral and caused him to run down the Ste Devote escape road and into retirement.
He was also critical of the five-second penalty he was forced to serve during his pitstop for making contact with Nico Hulkenberg on the opening lap, calling the decision "random" and "strange".
"No, of course not," he said when asked if he thought the penalty was justified. "At that moment I don't know what I can do.
"I'm on the inside, he's on the outside. We [made] contact, which in Monte Carlo could happen because two cars are difficult to pass in one corner.
"It was a very strange penalty. To give penalties like this, randomly, is strange but it is the way it is.
"But it did not change anything for me because I stop P9, do the tyre change and exit P9 so it was no consequence."
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