• Jerez Test Day Two

Pirellis will improve racing - Button

ESPNF1 Staff
February 11, 2011 « Schumacher fastest on second day | »
Jenson Button got his first run in the new MP4-26 on Friday © Sutton Images
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Jenson Button believes the new Pirelli tyres will have a significant impact on racing this season, making Sunday afternoons more exciting for both drivers and fans.

From an early stage in its testing programme, Pirelli has set out to improve the show by producing soft tyres that have a more noticeable performance drop off and more stable harder compounds. The degradation is aimed at mixing up strategies and forcing drivers to consider tyre management in their approach to qualifying and the race.

All four compounds were available to test - two of which will be brought to each race - and Button said the differences between them should ensure exciting racing.

"We've tried the different Pirelli tyres - there are big differences across the compound range; not only in terms of laptime, but also with degradation and durability," he said. "It's going to be fun for racing, I think, and it's what everyone wanted. The TV viewers will certainly know the differences between the tyres."

Button got his first taste of the McLaren MP4-26 on Friday, spending the morning getting comfortable and the afternoon working on the tyres. He said he had not had a chance to push the car to the limit, but enjoyed toying with its KERS.

"The morning was spent getting me satisfactorily fitted in the car, adapting to the hybrid - which is new to me - and getting used to how the system works. I like the power boost it gives you. I felt a lot more comfortable with the car at the end of the day after we'd played around with a few things in the cockpit. We've made some good progress."

He added: "It's been a good first day. On Sunday, I hope we can start to have a crack at seeing what the car really has in it."

Times

Driver Car Time Laps
1. Michael Schumacher Mercedes W02 1:20.352 112
2. Felipe Massa Ferrari F150th Italia 1:20.413 116
3. Jenson Button McLaren MP4-26 1:21.009 69
4. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso STR6 1:21.214 72
5. Mark Webber Red Bull RB7 1:21.613 113
6. Adrian Sutil Force India VJM-04 1:21.780 73
7. Sergio Perez Sauber C30 1:21.857 56
8. Timo Glock Virgin MVR-02 1:22.208 57
9. Vitaly Petrov Renault R31 1:22.493 65
10. Pastor Maldonado Williams FW33 1:22.591 37
10. Jarno Trulli Lotus T128 1:23.216 40

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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