Jenson Button described as “emotional” his third-place finish in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix despite missing out on the podium celebrations.
Button initially finished fourth at Albert Park, three seconds behind new McLaren team-mate Kevin Magnussen.
But over five hours after the chequered flag had fallen, Magnussen and Button were elevated up to second and third behind race winner Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes after Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was excluded for a fuel infringement.
Given the difficulties of the weekend for Button, his first without father John who passed away in January and who had attended all but one of his son’s previous 249 grand prix weekends, the 34-year-old felt the result was a fitting one.
“Sunday was a painful day because I wanted to do really well for him,” said Button.
“It’s been a tough weekend emotionally. I’m not the sort of a person who likes to show it in front of a TV camera. I don’t think that’s right.
“He’ll have a big smile on his face looking down and knowing everyone’s talking about him right now... he loved that.”