Button unconcerned by poor winter testing

Jenson Button is unconcerned by McLaren’s poor showing during winter testing in Spain.

McLaren failed to show the speed of other teams in Barcelona and Jerez, but late developments during the final test in Barcelona have given Button cause to be optimistic.

Then of course the track characteristics in Australia are completely different to those in Spain where it was cold and the Pirelli tyres showed high levels of degradation.

The Albert Park track will treat the tyres different, the warmer temperatures will mean the Pirelli compounds will react different and Button believes his McLaren will also show improvements.

‘If we were racing in Barcelona this weekend, yes we would be [concerned], but it’s different here.

‘It’s going to be cooler than it is now on Sunday, but it’s still hotter than the test. Button told Autosport Magazine.

‘It’s a very different type of asphalt and we know it’s a very different circuit to Barcelona.

Button also pointed towards the different developments the teams have taken during the winter in regards to how they will compete in 2013.

Formula One World Champions Red Bull announced their new car as an evolution of last years car, something that a lot of teams have gone for due to the limited regulation changes between 2012 and 2013.

That of course means that they are likely to start the season better and more consistent as they are working with cars that they have merely improved since the end of last season.

McLaren however have come into the new 2013 season with a new car, which gives them more room to manoeuvre when it comes to developments during the course of the year.

Button added: ‘When you look at most cars, they are developed from last year whereas with ours it’s very different, The geometry of the car is very different, the way the aerodynamics work is very different, so it is always going to be tougher if you have made bigger changes.

‘We still don’t think that should hinder us at the first race, but it should help us throughout the season having a much better development curve than most other teams.’

Meanwhile, McLaren and Vodafone have announced that their sponsorship agreement will come to an end at the end of the 2013 season.

Vodafone and McLaren’s partnership began in 2007 but the contract will not be extended beyond the end of this year.