• McLaren news

Button ready for India challenge

Jenson Button calls the first time on a new circuit "a strange experience" © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News:
• New front wing for McLaren in India
  
• Preview:
• 'I think it's going to be a big deal'
  

• Race:
• Indian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Jenson Button

• Teams:
• McLaren

Jenson Button said it will be "quite an intense experience" to learn the new Buddh International Circuit for the Indian Grand Prix.

With the race in Greater Noida taking place for the first time next weekend, the teams are heading to India with only simulation data and not prior knowledge of the track. As a result, Button said it will be "strange" to take to the circuit for the first time, with so many aspects that need to be assessed and remembered.

"The first time you run on a new circuit is a strange experience because you're piecing together an incredibly diverse and vivid set of data in your mind," Button said. "That's quite an intense experience. You're quickly gathering everything together - constantly assessing the grip-level, watching for unexpected bumps, checking the kerb-height, run-off areas, pitlane entry and exit, gradient. And that all happens at about 170mph!"

Button also said there were a few sections that he was looking forward to, namely turns 10 and 11.

"The track itself has quite a nice mix of corners - the start of the lap is pretty stop-start, there are a couple of long straights mixed with tight hairpins, but it's the end of the lap that's more interesting: there are some pretty high-speed changes of direction through the esses and some gradient change. One of the things that looks really interesting is the double-apex banked corner at the back of the circuit - that's pretty unusual. It's sort of a mix between Turn 13 at China and Korea's Turn 11."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.