Jenson Button feels at home in Japan

Jenson Button feels at home in Japan because it’s a country he has appreciated for many years. The McLaren driver is eager to race in front of the Japanese public, seven months after the earthquake and tsunami that affected the Fukushima region. The 2009 world champion hopes that the race can give a bit of hope to the people severely affected by the disaster.

I consider Japan as my second home – it’s a place I hold dear to my heart, and, of course, it’s going to be a very emotional experience for me to race in Japan for the first time since the events of March. I am very proud that the Formula 1 World Championship puts Japan in the spotlight next weekend: as the country tries to rebuild, I am well aware that sport can play a crucial role in helping restore hope and a sense of normality for all the communities affected by the earthquake and tsunami, explains Jenson Button.

The Briton also showed his solidarity with the victims by wearing a helmet with the Japanese flag drawn on it (see the photo above) during the Monaco Grand Prix. Button also stated that he expected to fight at the front against the Red Bull drivers as in previous races – he is coming off four consecutive podium finishes.

I think it will be a great race for everyone. In the last races, I think we have shown that we had a very good pace and that we have been the team able to compete with the Red Bull. On paper, I think it’s a circuit that will suit the Red Bull, especially the fast sequences of the first sector, but I don’t think people should underestimate our car.

The McLaren driver is counting on the new rear wing introduced by McLaren to have a slight performance edge over Vettel and Webber’s RB7s.

« We showed at Spa that we have a car that is good in very fast corners. We have also improved our top speed and have a more efficient rear wing for the qualifying session, so I think we can approach this weekend positively,» added Button.