Button admits Le Mans was 'disconcerting'

Jenson Button said the alien feeling of driving an LMP1 car around Le Mans was "disconcerting" as he prepares to take on the 24 Hours alongside the likes of Fernando Alonso. The 2009 Formula 1 champion is racing for SMP Racing in the World Endurance Championship showpiece event.

The Russian-based team ended Sunday's first test fifth-fastest thanks to another former F1 driver, Vitaly Petrov.

Button's best time was almost two and a half seconds down on the Russian's quickest, although running was limited due to sensor issues, denying the team valuable track time.

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Alonso ended the day top of the timesheets with Toyota, having won on his WEC debut at Spa last month.

Having driven in the Super GT series - Japan's sportscar championship - since leaving F1 in 2016, Button said the capabilities of the LMP1 drive took some time to get used to.

"I was reasonably happy, but in the morning I found it another world - driving around here in a car I don't really know," Button said.

"I found it quite disconcerting. But we made some good changes over lunch, and I was much happier with the car in the afternoon.

"[I had] a lot more confidence. High speed, good confidence, and the braking was much better too.

"A lot of the corners here are very tight and they come up on you very quickly, which is very different from what I'm used to.

"I definitely got to grips with it in the afternoon, much happier. But you always want more running, and new tyres.

"Hopefully we get some good laps in the Wednesday tests."