Button to take Suzuka gearbox penalty 02 Oct 2012
Jenson Button is set to drop five places on the grid for Sunday’s 2012 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix thanks to his McLaren requiring a new gearbox ahead of the Suzuka race.
Team mate Lewis Hamilton retired from the lead at the last round in Singapore with a transmission issue, and post-race checks on Button’s car have since uncovered an identical - and terminal - problem.
“Both cars must start the Japanese Grand Prix with new gearboxes, which means that Jenson will receive a five-place penalty,” McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe confirmed to Autosport.
The news is another blow to Button’s already distant hopes. The Briton lies sixth in the championship table, 75 points adrift of leader Fernando Alonso and 23 behind Hamilton, who escapes a penalty as he did not finish in Singapore.
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