Jenson Button missed out on a points finish at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday as Lewis Hamilton stormed to a fourth straight victory this season.
Frome Flyer Button was made to pay for a slow start in Barcelona as he brought his McLaren car home in 11th position to miss out on a world championship point by a single place.
The 34-year-old qualified eighth on the grid but tumbled down the order to 13th on the first lap and was unable to haul himself back into the reckoning before the chequered flag.
Button said: "The start and the first lap cost me a lot of time, and my second pit-stop compromised my strategy.
"During the first two stints, it felt like we were making progress, because we were faster than the cars in front. But we gambled on taking the second stop early, thinking we could jump one of the Force Indias, but Daniil's [Kvyat] Toro Rosso followed me in, and caused my release to be delayed by a few seconds while he came past me in the pit-lane.
"Then I came out of the pits just in front of Lewis [Hamilton], who was lapping me. He was running old tyres, while I was on fresh rubber; I had to let him past, but it delayed me a bit more.
"Nonetheless, I think we learnt something useful today. I'll be staying on here for next week's test, so hopefully we can learn a bit more again and make further progress. The test should be useful – not necessarily for Monaco, but for two or three races down the road.
"The midfield is extremely close, so even small improvements will make a difference."
Button's fellow Briton Hamilton continued his impressive start to the season with a fourth win in as many races to overtake team-mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the championship standings.
Hamilton held off Rosberg's late charge at the Circuit de Catalunya as Mercedes claimed a fourth one-two in a row.
Daniel Ricciardo was third for Red Bull, one place ahead of team-mate and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel. Button's McLaren colleague Kevin Magnussen finished in 12th.
