TALKING POINT VANDOORNE DEBUT
“ I ’ m pleased that I didn ’ t make any mistakes operationally – I was really focusing on that side of things – and I came away with a point , which was a nice bonus .”
A single point would once have been considered failure by McLaren , the second most successful team in the sport ’ s history in terms of wins , but they have won nothing since 2012 and last year suffered their worst season .
The signs for 2016 are already better — it took McLaren six races before they scored a point last year as they started a new partnership with Honda — and Button was third fastest in Friday practice .
McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier said Vandoorne , who could also drive for McLaren in China on April 17 if Alonso fails to pass a medical before that third race of the season , had put in a “ flawlessly mature ” performance .
He said Button might have finished at least seventh , and possibly higher , without the problem but Vandoorne “ didn ’ t put a foot wrong ”.
Boullier added : “ Having done such a good weekend , it ’ s a massive boost of confidence ( for him ). A boost for his career . The whole weekend went trouble-free . We definitely didn ’ t put any pressure on him but he did a brilliant job .”