• Belgian Grand Prix

Button attempted one-stop strategy

ESPN Staff
August 25, 2013 « Rosberg enjoys chasing Hamilton | Webber bemoans another poor start »
Jenson Button: "A few laps after the team said we are going to try and do a one-stop the front left just gave up" © Sutton Images
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Jenson Button attempted a one-stop strategy at the Belgian Grand Prix, but soon had to bail out for a second when the front left tyre started to heavily degrade.

Button was running as high as third after making his first stop later than the other front runners and taking on hards instead of a second set of mediums. That gave him the option to attempt a one-stop if the tyres would hold up, and he said after the race that the team had considered it as an option.

"One stop was a consideration, but we pitted too early on the first stint," he said. "We went for a two-stop and then tried to go back to a one- but there was no way we were going to do 12 more laps on those tyres. We pitted and it was the best thing to do because it's better to be chasing than being the one being overtaken.

"It was alright. It was a little bit off what we wanted, but we weren't that far behind third - 13 seconds behind third and just behind a Red Bull. It's definitely a step forward, but there are still some areas where we thought we'd be better here and we are not."

Button said the evolving strategy had hampered his chances.

"A few laps after the team said we are going to try and do a one-stop the front left just gave up. It's nice to be racing up the top with those guys and I think our pace was with them it's just that the strategy was wrong and we were a bit in the middle."

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