Button gets grid penalty for Japanese GP

Jenson Button will have to drop five places on the grid for Sunday’s race in Suzuka after his McLaren needed a new gearbox ahead of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix.

McLaren mechanics discovered a similar problem to the one that forced teammate Lewis Hamilton to retire from the race in Singapore, with the gearbox change on Button’s car prompting a penalty from F1 officials, the F1 official website reported on Tuesday.

“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 was quoted as saying.