Button to take grid penalty at Japanese GP

Jenson Button

Jenson Button will take a five-place grid penalty at the Japanese GP following an unscheduled gearbox change.

The news is a hefty blow to Button's hopes of victory and follows a series of technical failings which have bedeviled his McLaren team in the last month with Button retiring from second place at Monza and current team-mate Lewis Hamilton forced out of the Singapore GP while leading the race when his gearbox failed.

According to Autosport, Button's gearbox has now also been changed after analysis determined that it would suffer the same race-ending shutdown as Hamilton's two weeks ago.

"Jenson's gearbox had the same problem as Lewis's gearbox during the Singapore Grand Prix, and subsequent investigation has revealed a terminal failure," said Technical Director Paddy Lowe.

"Therefore both cars must start the Japanese Grand Prix with new gearboxes, which means that Jenson will receive a five-place penalty."

Hamilton, however, will not receive a penalty having retired from the Singapore race.

"Poor old Jenson," tweeted Martin Brundle. "In the year of the great gearbox plague he'll take 5 place grid drop in Suzuka. At least he can overtake/barge there," tweeted Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle. Sky Sports