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2 Kimi Raikkonen
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'Button has answered his critics'

Sunday 22nd July 2012

'Button has answered his critics'

'Button has answered his critics'

Martin Whitmarsh has praised Jenson Button's "hunger" after the McLaren driver claimed only his third podium of the season in Germany.

Having struggled for pace in recent grands prix, Button failed to match his early season form, coming in for some criticism.

The Brit put that behind him in Germany on Sunday as he raced to third place, putting in some impressive laps to catch the leading duo and challenging for the victory.

It wasn't to be, though, and Button finished third after being ovetaken by Sebastian Vettel on the penultimate lap.

"Look where Jenson was at end of the first stint, Vettel and Alonso were some way down the road and we had to hunt them down," his McLaren team boss told the BBC.

"Anyone who doubted Jenson's hunger can put that now to the back of their minds."

There was, however, a bit of controversy on the penultimate lap of the grand prix when Vettel appeared to overtake Button with all four wheels off the track. The move is being investigated by the race stewards.

"There is a bit of debate about what happened on the last lap and the stewards will take a view on that," said the McLaren team boss.

"There is no point me giving my view as I suspect you know what it is. The stewards have all their data."

But while Button had a great afternoon in Germany, Lewis Hamilton did not.

The 2008 World Champion retired on lap 58 after his race was undone by a puncture on lap 3 which damaged his car's floor.

"Lewis will know he had a quick car today," said Whitmarsh.

"He will be frustrated for the next 24 hours but he will recover knowing he has a good record in Hungary and he has a fast car."

Related Links
Alonso Wins Three-Way German Thriller
Sunday's Pics From Hockenheim

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