JENSON BUTTON
- MP4-26A-04
- Started: 3rd
- Finished: 2nd
- Fastest lap: 1m48.454s (1st)
- Pitstops: Three: laps 14, 30 and 48 (Op-Pr-Op-Op)
- 2011 points: 185 (2nd)

“I was being told throughout the race to look after the car and the tyres; the only time I was really able to push was in the last 12 laps, when I chased down Seb on the super-soft tyre.


“I gave it everything - but, in the end, we didn’t quite have the pace to make up the gap. Still, I think we had the best possible strategy for both Saturday and Sunday, and I couldn’t realistically have asked for a better result this weekend.

“In fact, we didn’t make any mistakes this weekend and, as a team, I think we did the best possible job with the equipment we had. We need to improve a few things in our package, but I think Suzuka should suit us a little better (than Marina Bay).

“I’ve had a run of podium finishes recently, so I’d really love to finish one step higher at the next race!”

LEWIS HAMILTON
- MP4-26A-03
- Started: 4th
- Finished: 5th
- Fastest lap: 1m50.832s (+2.378s, 4th)
- Pitstops: Five: laps 11, 13 (front-wing change), 15 (drive-through), 29 and 48 (Op-Op-Pr-d/t-Op-Pr)
- 2011 points: 168 (5th)

“Congratulations to Seb on a great drive - he drove fantastically all weekend.

“And well done to Jenson, too - he showed what was possible from our package by really getting the maximum out of it. He nearly brought home the victory too - so I’m encouraged that we can continue to challenge for wins for the rest of the season.

“I had fun picking off cars after my penalty, but it was frustrating to once again be down the field when I felt we had a car that could have challenged up at the front.

“For me, this weekend was a bit of a missed opportunity. As always, though, I’ll put it behind me - I’m already looking forward to Suzuka!”

MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“Jenson drove a truly fabulous race yet again - and bagged 18 valuable world championship points as a result.

“He controlled his pace faultlessly, looked after his tyres brilliantly, and then attacked the Marina Bay circuit with total commitment at the end when aggression rather than circumspection was called for. But for a bit of bad luck in the form of a few backmarkers whom he encountered at precisely the inopportune moment, he could well have snatched a truly sensational victory.

“He’s now a clear second in the drivers’ world championship too.

“Lewis had a more frustrating day, but drove with great determination to finish fifth at the chequered flag, pulling off some fantastic passing manoeuvres in so doing.

“All in all, he had to make five visits to the pit lane - so, as I say, bearing that in mind, fifth place was a seriously impressive achievement.

“Next, though, we go to Suzuka, which is one of the great circuits on the Formula One calendar from a driver’s point of view.

“Both Lewis and Jenson will be aiming for ultimate honours there - as indeed they will in all the remaining races of the 2011 season.”

Nico Rosberg finished the Singapore Grand Prix in seventh place this evening whilst team-mate Michael Schumacher retired from the race following a collision.


• Nico ran a three-stop option/option/option/prime strategy stopping on laps 9, 22 and 29
• After starting on options, Michael stopped on laps 10 and 24, both times for options, prior to his retirement
• Michael was running in ninth place when he collided with the rear of Sergio Perez’s Sauber at turn eight on lap 28

Nico Rosberg
“The optimum today would have been sixth place but it didn’t quite work out for us this weekend. I was struggling with the rear end in the race, and our car just really didn’t suit this demanding track. I had more problems with tyre degradation than the cars around me, which combined with having to switch our strategy when the safety car came out, meant it was impossible to make any progress. Whilst we might not be happy with the outcome of our weekend here in Singapore, we will now work hard to improve the car for the next races here in Asia.”

Michael Schumacher
“It was a very unfortunate ending to my race in Singapore tonight and obviously I am a bit disappointed. What happened was what I would call a misunderstanding between Sergio Perez and myself. He was about to go inside and lifted, and I was not expecting him to do that so early, and therefore hit him. It’s probably one of those race incidents which look more impressive from outside than from inside, as I am totally ok and my impact in the end was not too heavy. It was a pity because my car and the tyres worked well, and therefore the pace was very good. I will look ahead to the next races and hope to have better endings there.”

Ross Brawn
“It turned out to be a fairly tough race for us this evening. As expected, we didn’t have the pace to match the leaders but we were quite comfortable in the gap behind the top six cars. Unfortunately Michael’s accident hurt us both from his own point of view and that it brought out the safety car at the wrong time for our strategy. Nico then did a very good job to make the set of tyres that he had last for over half of the race. Seventh place was about as much as we could have expected today, and whilst it feels disappointing, we will keep working hard and pushing forward.”

Norbert Haug
“The race developed quite well for us until Michael´s incident with Sergio Perez which brought out the safety car. We had no choice but to pit Nico and put him on the prime tyres, on which he then did 31 laps, more than half the race distance. Nico did a very good job to keep the tyres together for such a long stint. Michael´s speed before the accident looked good, considering our current technical package, so it is a shame for him as he could perhaps have finished in front of Nico. Without the safety car, and with an ideal strategy for Nico, he could have been in a position to finish one place higher. Thank you to the organisers here in Singapore for hosting this race, which is one of the most spectacular events in the calendar, and produces the best television images over the course of the season.”