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INTERVIEW: Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso optimistic despite McLaren's tough F1 season
Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso speak to CNN about the F1 season, their relationship with the sport, past memories and when they feel McLaren will become a competitive force.
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Jenson, how is yours and McLaren’s season going and when will McLaren start being truly competitive?
“Formula one is the same as triathlon in some way, but it’s as a team, not as an individual. You know you only get out what you put in and this team are putting in everything to succeed. It’s been a difficult year. It’s a very young partnership still. It’s just when really. Will it be next year? Will it be five years? That’s the question you can’t answer right now.”
What’s your relationship like with Formula One?
“Motorsport has been my life since I was eight years old and formula one has been my life for 16 years. All of the memories I have are from racing. It’s not just a job, it’s not just a hobby. It has been my life so it means a lot to me. When you’re succeeding in a sport that you love, it just blows your mind. It’s the best place in the world. When you’re not doing so well it’s tough, very frustrating because you know you can achieve in the right situation. But it’s how long you have to wait for that situation to come along, and sometimes it’s too long.”
How has Formula One evolved?
“Formula one is still formula one. Formula one ten years ago was the best formula one we ever had – V10 engines, the tyre war and lots of down force. I don’t think you could take children to the circuit because it was so loud. It was a great spectacle. I had good times with Honda back then in the V10 and I also raced with the V8s with Honda as well. Some really special memories.”
FERNANDO ALONSO
Reflecting on previous seasons.
“I went to many different years of F1, and the one that I am now, I don’t enjoy particularly, the cars are a little bit too slow, only 2 or 3 seconds faster than a GP2 car, the noise is not anymore as before. There were V10 engines, around 1000 horse power, there were tyre competitions, so the tyres reach a very good level of performance, there were pit-stops with refuelling, with tyres that you keep pushing all the race through…”
What’s it like looking back on winning championships in 2005 and 2006?
“For me personally the best memory of my F1 career, these two years they were amazing and yeah very very proud.”
How has your first season been with McLaren?
“Well obviously we are not competitive and we want to change that situation quickly but…I am happy with the decision to go back to McLaren Honda, all these projects and to beat Mercedes, that they are dominant now in Formula One, you need to do something different, and I think we are doing that. After five years in Ferrari, being second all the time, I think it was enough for me.”
Do you feel you could win a third championship in the future?
“Yeah that’s the target we left some space for that. There are three McLaren Hondas coming in the next three years at least, one of them if we can fit a world champion here will be the dream come true because I am looking for this third world championship quite hard. There is some space for a Le Mans car maybe in the future as well so yeah everything is prepared.”
