Jenson Button is eagerly awaiting the arrival of 2013 when he will be able to direct McLaren’s development programme as the team’s lead driver, according to ESPN F1.
With fellow driver Lewis Hamilton leaving for Mercedes and Sergio Perez coming in as his replacement, Button will assume the mantle of team leader. Having been team leader at British American Racing at a much younger age, Button said that he enjoyed the role and is currently focusing on a crucial few months before the start of the new season.
“I really enjoy being the lead driver,” said Button. “It feels good being the guy who can help the team improve the car and sort of mould the car around me. So I’m really looking forward to 2013.
“The good thing about McLaren is that they really listen to what a driver has to say – we’re an important part of the puzzle – it’s not just driving the car.”
He further said it will take a while for Perez to settle in to the team before he’ll have an input in car development.
“For Sergio, obviously learning about the team and about the car first is important. Then during the season when he gets a handle on it he can help with the direction. But at the moment it’s impossible because he hasn’t driven a McLaren before so he doesn’t really know how it’s going to be.”
HRT missing in FIA’s 2013 entry list
HRT seems to be at the end of its racing days after failing to find a buyer in time to make the Federation of International Automobiles’ (FIA) 2013 entry list.
Owners Thesan Capital had put up the team for sale in early November, deferring its initial €500,000 entry fee for the 2013 season as they tried to find a buyer before the November 30 entry deadline. But they failed to close a deal and the team’s subsequent non-appearance in the FIA list of entrants for next season all but confirmed the team’s demise.
Despite never completing a full pre-season schedule with its car, the team finished 11th in the constructors’ championship in both 2010 and 2011 before finishing 12th this season.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2012.
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