Suzuka grid penalty for Button

02/10/2012

Jenson Button will take a five-place grid penalty this weekend after his team was forced to change his gearbox following last week's Singapore Grand Prix.

As the teams head to Japan, McLaren has revealed that a post-race inspection showed that Button had the same problem as that which eliminated teammate Lewis Hamilton from the race, according to some the straw that broke the camel's back and sent the 2008 champion to Mercedes.

Although trailing Fernando Alonso by 75 points (3 straight wins) Button's championship hopes are over, there remains the mathematical possibility that he could produce a miracle turnaround, especially in a season as topsy-turvy as this. Indeed, the Englishman won here last year, his third win of the season.