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F1 Belgian GP: McLaren ‘pushing the limits’ of MP4-31

Jenson Button says McLaren-Honda is continuing too 'push the limits' of its package as it continues its steady trajectory back towards the front of the grid over the second-half of the 2016 season.

While most teams have begun turning attentions towards the 2017 season to better prepare for the upcoming change in technical regulations, McLaren-Honda is continuing to focus on its MP4-31 package with a series of updates planned to the end of the year.

With the second-half of the season kicking off with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, former F1 champion Button says both McLaren and Honda have been working hard over the summer break to seek a step forward.

"I love Spa! Eau Rouge is one of those fabled corners that drivers and fans always talk about - but it really is that special. The feeling of the sweep uphill through the corners is just awesome, every time. As well as being the longest circuit on the calendar, it also has an average speed of 230km/h (143mph), so it's pretty quick!

"That means it's pretty brutal on the cars - you're at full throttle for almost three-quarters of the lap - so all the team and drivers will be working hard to manage all the different aspects of the car and react quickly to anything that crops up during the race.

"The important thing, as always, is reliability, and because of the nature of the Spa circuit it tends to be a race of attrition. The guys and girls back at MTC and also in Sakura are working hard to keep pushing the limits of our package, and I hope we can enjoy a smooth race from that point of view."

Button is currently 15th in the overall standings with a best finish of sixth position at the Austrian Grand Prix. 

Zdroj: crash.net