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F1: McLaren mechanic keeps job after Jenson Button failure

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

The McLaren mechanic who cost Jenson Button his championship lead has kept his job but is "devastated", according to team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Jenson Button on the starting grid in Monaco. (Photo: WRI2)

On the Monaco grid, the mechanic forgot to remove a cooling bung from the sidepod of Briton Button's MP4-25 and the engine overheated.

"When you are trying to do your best and you make a mistake it is devastating," said Martin Whitmarsh.

Jenson Button, 30, was initially angry but he later acknowledged that mistakes happen. "I'm sure the guy who did not pull it out is gutted. I feel sorry for the guy. We all make mistakes," he said.

It also emerged that, on Saturday, Jenson Button had to throw a remote control for his garage monitor out of the cockpit at the Rascasse chicane. "This one (the cooling bung) was a race stopper," said Jenson Button, who is now fourth in the championship and 8 points behind the new leader Mark Webber.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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