Jenson Button believes McLaren can win in Monaco if it out-thinks rivals Red Bull.
Red Bull has been dominant this season, taking five pole positions from as many races and four wins. On the one occasion when Lewis Hamilton's McLaren beat the championship leaders - at the Chinese Grand Prix - it was thanks to a superior strategy.
Monaco will see the race debut of Pirelli's super-soft tyres and Button reckons whoever gets the better understanding of the rubber in free practice will be at an advantage on race day.
"Last year the Red Bulls were quick there and they are going to be quick again," he told the Guardian. "With two experienced drivers around the circuit they are going to be tough to beat, but we will do what we can.
"There won't be any overtaking in Monaco, even with DRS, unless you are on completely different strategies or different tyres. Strategies will be interesting. I doubt if it will be a one-stop race.
"We have a chance to out-drive them and out-think them. Monaco is going to be a proper thinking race … looking after tyres … a tricky one. Thursday and Saturday will be so important, gaining information and learning how they work. Sunday is going to be a long afternoon on the super-soft tyre."
Button said McLaren had been buoyed by their performance in Spain, where they introduced a raft of upgrades and finished with two cars on the podium behind Sebastian Vettel.
"Looking forward, Sebastian does have a big lead [in the championship] and he won in Barcelona, but he had a McLaren on his arse and I finished ahead of the other Red Bull, the guy who started in pole. It's not all bad. With a few more improvements like we had in Spain I can see us fighting them for a win. In reality, I don't think we are going to be able to fight them in qualifying for a little while but Monaco might be an exception because it's a very unique circuit."
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