DNS caps off dismal weekend for Button

A failure to even start the Bahrain Grand Prix would prove a fittingly dismal conclusion to Jenson Button's weekend, the Briton suffering a series of reliability problems from start-to-early finish.

Managing just 14 laps on the first day of free practice, Button would go on to grind to a halt during qualifying before setting a time, leaving him 20th and last on the grid.

However, the recurring electrical issues would continue into Sunday and McLaren would have no choice but to withdraw Button, much to his evident disappointment.

"Obviously, that was a disappointing day to end a disappointing weekend," he said. "However, although I was unable to get the running I required, and was also unable to make the start of today's race at all, it's clear that our car is improving, and that's good news for all of us.

"That's a result of a lot of hard work. In particular, I want to say a big 'thank you' to the boys in the garage, who worked unbelievably hard all weekend for so little reward. Their commitment and team spirit are massively impressive, and I know we'll get the rewards they deserve in the end."

"Jenson's wretched luck continued," Eric Boullier added. "The team had worked prodigiously hard to try to ready his car for the race after his technical issues yesterday, but, sadly, during the fire-up we noticed data that indicated an unresolved issue originating from the electrical glitches that had struck during the practice sessions yesterday and the day before.

"We believed that there was a significant likelihood that the issue would recur in running, and would indeed eventually scupper Jenson's race. We tried our best to fix it but, sadly, we weren't able to find a remedy in time for the start."