Button bemoans slow F1 progress

SHANGHAI (AFP) –

McLaren driver Jenson Button of Britain looks out of the garage before the first practice session of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 12, 2013. Button has expressed disappointment at the progress made on his clunky McLaren, but said he took some satisfaction in qualifying ahead of the Red Bulls.

Jenson Button expressed disappointment on Saturday at the progress made on his clunky McLaren, but said he took some satisfaction in qualifying ahead of the Red Bulls.

The former world champion has had a difficult start to the new season, finishing down in ninth in Australia and retiring from the race late on in Malaysia last month.

His much-reworked MP4-28 has come in for much criticism, including from Button himself, and the Briton had hoped to see big improvements to the car from Malaysia at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Asked after qualifying in eighth on Saturday in Shanghai if they had turned a corner, he said: “If we have started turning it it’s a long corner.

“We’ve got a long way to go still. It’s great that we’ve got the parts on the car since the last race.

“But you always want more and we are still not competitive enough. We’ve made a small gain but it’s not as big as what we’d hoped.

“At least we understand what is wrong with the car and where we need to go with the car, but we need to keep pushing and get there sooner rather than later.”

Button did though take some solace in seeing reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel, of Red Bull, qualify a place behind him. Mark Webber, in the other Red Bull, exited the action in the second qualifying session.

“For us to outqualify both Red Bulls is amazing, so I am very happy about that,” said Button