The headline’s the big question, isn’t it? Jenson Button’s confirmed move to McLaren for 2010 will make him number one at the team in a physical sense – it’ll be written on his car – but most believe he’ll end up number two in reality. Jenson says he likes a challenge. Well, he’s certainly got one.
As the World Champion, Button in my mind was the driver of the year despite his struggles over the second half of the season. Actually scratch that. Because of his struggles from Silverstone onward. He is a great racing driver, a worthy World Champion. But is he really a match for Lewis Hamilton in a team where the 2008 World Champion is so at home?
When Martin Whitmarsh says both drivers will be given the same treatment, believe him. It’s always been McLaren’s way to offer equality, sometimes to its detriment (see Alonso vs Hamilton, 2007). But will the team really be able to develop the MP4-25 in different directions for two drivers with starkly contrasting driving styles? And how will Whitmarsh and co deal with the intense focus that will come from having two British World Champions on opposite sides of the same garage?
For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t be quick to write off Button’s chances. There’s clearly nothing wrong with his self-belief, and that’s just as it should be coming off the back of a world title season. If McLaren gives him what he needs, he’ll win races. And as we know, he makes very few mistakes.
But what do you think? The racing world is chattering away on Button vs Hamilton right now. But what better place than Motor Sport’s website to profess an opinion… (Well, I would say that!)
Perhaps you think the McLaren boys will be second best, anyway – to Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari, or a determined Sebastian Vettel getting into his stride, or Nico Rosberg rising to the occasion in his new Silver Arrow. Let the debate begin.
Schumacher would have been away for four years and F1 drivers need actual Grand Prix meetings to keep their neck muscles VERY strong. Schumacher already risks permanent paralysis if he has the wrong shunt. I’d be willing to bet the value of my house he won’t be back ever. With the grid so close a few 10ths will make a big difference in grid position, something which old-style ‘race craft’ may not be able to compensate for especially after a few Grand Prix races.
DDT,
At the end of 2007 Hamilton had one more point than Alonzo. That is hardly grinding him up and spitting him out. With the way McLaren and all of Great Britain were set against him he seemed to have held up pretty well.
And to all the comments about how “sloppy” Fernando drives, if you think Lewis is any “tidier” you obviously haven’t been watching F1.
All this talk about drivers, it’s 80 to 90+% down to the cars. The interesting question is who will design the best car this next season. And as regards that, I think Button is betting on McLaren to develope a better car than Mercedes and that had a lot to do with his move.
Wow! If only a WRC would come past my house. Must be very exciting. Kimi in a rally car is only my fanciful conjecture of course, as is Schumacher at Mercedes, but nothing much surprises me.
Don’t know how much your house is worth Mr Tanveer, but I hope you don’t lose this bet……….! Never say never, especially where Schumacher is concerned. We shall see.
Button may have made a good move. But Mr Brawn is an exceptionally capable bloke, and with the might of Mercedes behind him……………..it will not be disappointing.
Anyway, again, we shall see. Long time to wait.
RW
I’m still saying Mika Hakkinen would be the bomb.
To Rob Widdows, Esquire:
I don’t think this is the right era for a 40-something year old with a fragile neck who was used to having sole Number 1 status with a dutiful Number 2 acting as a bag boy. It’s not the right era for someone who was used to having an understeery car designed exclusively for his style by Rory Byrne and with Ross Brawn calling impecable strategy. No Sir. This is a very strong driver era – something Schumacher wasn’t used to either – with Control tyres, engine homologations and budget caps on technology…all of which takes away from the big edge the German was provided once upon a time.
Schumacher would be out-gunned – perhaps even crushed – by the top 6 or 7 drivers on the grid.
I think Vettel, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Alonso and Co. would make a mockery of the old German. Remember, by the end of 2006 even Massa was out-qualifying and legitimately beating “Schuey”…and it’s been over 3 years since then and Massa has gone through an exponential learning curve just to get to being near or at the level of the current crop of Aces.
I think it wouldn’t even be close. “Schumi” is getting blown away by 20-somethings in karts these days. What hope would he have against the current Number 1s on the F1 grid? He’s used to an uneven playing field stacked very much in his favour. There’s no hope for that right now.
Ha…It’s not like he’ll be able to cheat more than before, is it?
In the current issue the Lunch With feature is with Nigel Mansell. Mansell was no spring chicken when he won his world titles, and competed strongly despite carrying injuries or their aftermath. Mansell was also brought back from America to drive in F1 for commercial reasons. It’s happened before, what’s to say it won’t happen now with Schumacher?
Would Schumacher drive for any other team than Ferrari? Is his relationship with Ferrari stronger than that with Ross Brawn? Wasn’t Alonso talking to Brawn at Honda for the 2009 season?
Of course it’s all good publicity that keeps F1 in the media spotlight during an otherwise quiet period?
Yes but Mansell was actually racing before re-joining F1.
Frank Williams recently said an F1 driver needs actual race meetings to maintain the strength of their neck muscles, something which is vital these days.
Unlike Mansell, Schumacher has not been actively racing big single-seaters. And, with drivers not being allowed to test until February, how will Schumacher get up to speed? He’s not.
Again, Schumacher did well when EVERYTHING was stacked in his favour. He floundered under pressure especially when the playing field was level. And even then he had to resortt o cheating…
If you want a “Lunch With…” guest or Pod-cast guest, I suggest a certain Johnny Herbert…He was Schumacher’s “teammate” once – winning two GPs much to Flabio’s chagrin.
Ask Johnny how “Shuey”/”Schumi” operated…
The current crop of Aces would dispose of “Schumi”/”Shuey” faster than the youngsters in the recent Kart races did.
Thank you for this piece Damien.
The article Mark Hughes wrote in the Times recently bodes well for the Frome-ster.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6926826.ece
And as some of you have pointed out next year will see a benefit for those with a smoother style.
But this avid fan cannot help but being enthralled by the dramatic driving antics of Lewis Hamilton.
He is a joy to watch and if television were my only medium to deduce talent on track he would take all my affection.
As for Kimi…why all the adoration?
He was ok but nothing to get all lathered up about.
I think you will find that the only Pole he will be near next year is the one Gemma is sashaying around at the Spearmint Rhino in Turku.
Jp
Next year it will be hard with a team mate like Lewis Hamilton but MercedesGP will not be BrawnGP so well done Jenson !
I find the whole JB/McLaren thing rather perplexing. First, we heard that Brawn wouldn’t reinstate JB’s 2008 salary for 2010 (never mind upping it, to reflect his WDC). Then, when Mercedes arrives, we’re told they want an all-German driver lineup — and why else would they favour Heidfeldt over Button? Finally, both Nick Fry and JB himself agree (at last!) that Jenson was offered a deal by Merc paying more than he’s getting at McLaren. Pick the bones out of that. Jenson’s track record where negotiating team moves is concerned is dire. But who would you tip to produce the quicker 2010 car — Brackley or Woking?
The cars will be numbered 1 for JB and 2 for LH.
That is the way it will be on the circuit.
JB is supremely smooth behind the wheel.
LH is fast and erratic.
Jenson Forever.