Button ready to bite the bullet

JENSON Button is ready to sacrifice his Austrian Grand Prix chances by taking a penalty that would boost his chances of a positive result at Silverstone.

McLaren continue to struggle in 2015 as the new Honda power unit flatters to deceive – with Button’s eighth-place finish in Monaco the team’s only points so far this year.

Both Button and teammate Fernando Alonso retired in the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago after being consistently off the pace in Montreal.

Alonso will have new upgrades in Austria but both cars are likely to face grid penalties for changing parts of their power unit – meaning the two former world champions could once again prop up the field after qualifying.

Button, who has never been on a Formula One podium at the British Grand Prix, said he would rather take the pain of a grid-drop for tomorrow’s race in Spielberg to allow him a more competitive showing at Silverstone in two weeks’ time.

“It is not going to be the easiest weekend,” he said. “First of all, one of the cars has got a penalty and we might have a penalty as well – we have just got to decide what we are going to do.

“From a racing point of view, you would rather take a penalty here or Silverstone. You don’t want it in Hungary – it is a circuit where we could be reasonably competitive.

“But the heart says take the penalty here so you don’t have anything at Silverstone, so you can give it your all and you might get something out of the weekend.”