May 17 (GMM) The McLaren mechanic who cost Jenson Button his championship lead has kept his job but is "devastated", according to team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

On the Monaco grid, the mechanic forgot to remove a cooling bung from the sidepod of Briton Button's MP4-25 and the engine overheated.

"When you are trying to do your best and you make a mistake it is devastating," said Whitmarsh.

Button, 30, was initially angry but he later acknowledged that mistakes happen.

"I'm sure the guy who did not pull it out is gutted. I feel sorry for the guy. We all make mistakes," he said.

It also emerged that, on Saturday, Button had to throw a remote control for his garage monitor out of the cockpit at the Rascasse chicane.

"This one (the cooling bung) was a race stopper," said Button, who is now fourth in the championship and 8 points behind the new leader Mark Webber.

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