22/04/2013
NEWS STORY
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Jenson Button is already looking forward to Barcelona, having held a 'clear the air' meeting with teammate Sergio Perez following an eventful Bahrain Grand prix.
The Mexican was like a man possessed on Sunday, clearly having taken Martin Whitmarsh's advice to heart. Following a dismal outing in China, the McLaren team boss told his driver to stick his elbows out and be a little more aggressive. Unfortunately, one of the first to be on the receiving end of the youngster's fiery new approach was his McLaren teammate.
As the two fought and banged wheels on Sunday, Button repeatedly called on his team to intervene and calm the Mexican. While it was thrilling for race fans there was the very real prospect of the Woking duo taking one another out and leaving Bahrain empty handed on a day they could benefit from the problems that had befallen a number of rivals most notably the Ferrari duo.
Tonight, Button tweeted: "Important chat yesterday with @SChecoPerez 2 clear the air. As a team we will move forward and live 2 fight another day ;) roll on Barcelona."
Keen to nip talk of any possible feud in the bud, and thereby prevent the sort of media speculation that has surrounded Red Bull, Mercedes and even Force India in recent weeks, Whitmarsh sat his drivers around the table following yesterday's race.
"Team Button wants to beat Team Perez," the Englishman admitted to reporters, referring not just to the drivers but their individual crews. "Right down to the mechanics, they want their car to beat the other car.
"That's how we work as a race team and it gives certain tensions in the system," he added, referring to the fact that traditionally McLaren has allowed its drivers to fight. one another. "But I think that's the right way to do it."
"I had a lot of noise in my ear from people suggesting I should stop them racing, but we didn't," her continued. "I think it was the right thing in the long term for both drivers to know they are racing each other and be competitive.
"We've seen it a couple of times this year, and the driver behind is always going to believe he was quicker, he's always going to be aggrieved. Those guys are out there fighting and you can't suddenly decide halfway through a race 'Oh, by the way, I didn't mean it. don't fight because it looks uncomfortable for me'"