Sunday: McLaren congratulates Vettel but won’t give up anything!

Jenson Button – 1st:

This was a very difficult race – the last 5 or 6 laps were complicated. I really had to worry about the tires and try to save as much fuel as possible to reach the finish line, but the victory was all the more fantastic!

« Sebastian [editor’s note: Vettel] moved over on me at the start – he kept pushing me, without stopping, so I had to go onto the grass and slow down… when there could have been a great overtaking move on the first lap. He says he didn’t see me leave the track but it cost me a position… »

Nevertheless, I was able to get back to the front of the race and fight for the victory, so I am satisfied: the car was performing well all weekend, it’s truly an emotional victory for me. The circuit has a rich history in motorsports and for me, it’s a bit like a second home victory after Silverstone…

«I would like to thank everyone who supported us here in Japan. We hope to have left them with beautiful memories after everything they’ve experienced this year. We did our best to offer them a great race! »

«Seb [editor’s note: Vettel] did a very good job all season and he deserved his title. He had very good equipment and was able to do exactly what the team asked of him. But for us, we can do even better this season by getting closer. We can fight for each race and I hope to win them. Everything we do to attack at the end of this season will be beneficial for next year, during the 2012 season.»

Lewis Hamilton – 5th:

It was a very disappointing race for me, but Jenson [Button] did a great job as did the whole team. He really deserved his victory, but I have no merit on my part today. Once again, I need to refocus and move forward. I hope to have another chance for victory this season.

Really, the car has the pace to win the race but I was not able to accomplish it today. I will try to understand why I couldn’t achieve better times and analyze the data. I hope to be more competitive in South Korea next week.

Regarding the race, I didn’t understand what happened with Felipe [Massa] – the mirrors were vibrating so much on the straight that I couldn’t see him next to me. Therefore, I’d like to apologize for our collision. There was no ill intention. I have deep respect for him. He is a fantastic driver and he was very fast today.

«Finally, I want to congratulate Sebastian [Vettel] on his title. We all knew it was going to happen. His season has been perfect. It is a new goal achieved for him. »

Martin Whitmarsh – Team Director:

Today we witnessed a superb race by Jenson [Button]. It was a very fast and complicated race. Both Sebastian [Vettel] and Fernando [Alonso] also had a very good race.

The last laps were very tense. We had to fight for the victory, but we were very stressed being in the lead. It was a great show, and Button didn’t make a single mistake. He drove very calmly and the victory is well-deserved.

Lewis Hamilton had a more difficult afternoon. We didn’t immediately notice his slow puncture on the right rear. We thought it was a pressure difference and added front downforce to compensate, but that wasn’t the right thing to do.

« In the other relays, Lewis was able to find the balance that had satisfied him during testing. It was a challenge to succeed, but he never gave up and continually attacked to score big points for the team. He had the pace today, and I am sure he will be even stronger in Korea next week. »

«Finally, on behalf of the whole team, I would like to congratulate Sebastian [Vettel] on his championship title. I just wish we could have celebrated his victory a little later in the season, but congratulations to him nonetheless.»

As for us, our ambitions remain unchanged and we will continue to fight for victory in every race.