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MP4-28 has lots of potential - Button

Jenson Button: "We want to be able to develop all the way through the year" © Sutton Images

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Jenson Button says McLaren's new car has been built with its long-term potential in mind, even if that makes the start of the season a little bit tricky.

The new MP4-28 is quite a dramatic departure from its predecessor despite stability in the regulations allowing for design concepts to be carried over. As a result the team has taken a little longer to build up an understanding of the car over the winter, with set-up changes taking longer than expected.

However, Button said the car had been designed with the whole of the season in mind and he is confident its development will pay off over the course of the year.

"When we came into this season we wanted to build a car that would be strong throughout the year, and that's why we've made so many changes to the way the car looks," Button told Press Association Sport. "The reason being is that it's a very long season and we want to be able to develop all the way through the year.

"Some teams might come with a car they used in Brazil (for the final race of last year) with a few tweaks to it. It means they will be strong at the first race, but they won't be able to develop like us through the year. That is the idea we have."

Button said McLaren was still going to the first race aiming to win, but acknowledged he would be facing stiff competition.

"Of course, we still want to be quick at the first race, we want to win from the word go," he added. "But it's possibly going to be a tough race, not just for us, but for everyone because it seems so, so close at the moment. But we still go to Melbourne aiming for a victory."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.