Jenson Button: 'McLaren still a long way off'

Jenson Button has proclaimed himself pleased with his 11th-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, but has admitted that McLaren still need to improve.

After starting at the back of the grid, Button was able to complete the race distance in Melbourne and finished just outside the points.

Despite leaving Albert Park with nothing, Button believes that McLaren have something to build on ahead of the next round in Malaysia.

He told reporters: "Today has been a good day. We're still a long way off, but this is a good starting point - and I enjoyed the race. I even had a good little battle with [Sergio Perez].

"Today also really helps in terms of development: if we'd done three laps, we'd have learned nothing, so we've learned a massive amount by completing a race distance.

"It was also a good opportunity for me to get used to the car and to play around with it, making adjustments in the cockpit. There's a lot of work still needed - on power, driveability, downforce and set-up - but we can make big strides."

The race was won by fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton, who beat Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to the chequered flag.