On a tough weekend for the Formula 1 paddock, McLaren were able to produce by far their best result of the season, despite problems for both cars in qualifying. Rumours of having maximum power from Honda combined with a circuit which suits the driver and the chassis more than the power unit certainly contributed to a strong double points finish on a day where attrition was high. In fact, McLaren scored as many points in this race as Mercedes did.
2015 Hungarian Grand Prix McLaren Review
No. 14 Fernando Alonso
Grid: P15
Race: P5
Alonso was halted by an electrical problem at the start of Q2, and felt that he could have been a few places higher up the grid. Despite pushing his car back to the pits, assistance from marshals meant that he was forbidden from continuing in the session. Nonetheless, a catalogue of calamities from the cars in front (notably the two Mercedes) meant that Alonso was able to battle his way through the field to a surprise fifth. Arguably the most notable of these battles was the one he shared with Carlos Sainz – the man who very much looks up to Alonso.
No. 22 Jenson Button
Grid: P16
Race: P9
A hybrid deployment problem cost the time that Button needed to get into Q2 in qualifying, however he still lined up alongside his team mate. After staying with Alonso early on, he seemed to drop back a bit during the race. However, he still managed to score points for the second time this season, and he was able to hold off the Saubers towards the end of the race.
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