Theories on Button and Byrne

Nigel Roebuck — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:08:00 +0000

Dear Nigel,
I’m going to be cheeky as I have two burning questions, hopefully you will answer them both?

1. I’m still a little mystified by Jenson Button’s transfer given his genuine affection for ‘his’ old team. My only theory is that he had a strong inkling that Michael Schumacher was on the way, Nico Rosberg would be demoted to test driver, and it would have been him against Schumacher – in a team run by Schumacher’s old buddy! Knowing how all Schumacher’s team-mates got treated, what would you do… any thoughts on the truth of that?

2. I’ve just read Crashed & Byrned, the book about Tommy Byrne – what a talent we missed out on! How do you think he measured up to Ayrton Senna? And why did no other Formula 1 teams pick up this guy after his McLaren test?
Tim Davison

Dear Tim,
I’m intrigued by your theory as to why Button left Brawn (Mercedes) for McLaren, but I really don’t think that’s the way it happened. It’s true that Ross and Michael Schumacher always had an unusually intuitive working relationship, and that each was only too aware of the other’s contribution to their success, but I don’t believe that Michael came seriously into Ross’s thoughts until Jenson decided on his move.

The jury is still out on why he – very quickly – opted to sign for McLaren. It’s clear that his first visit to the McLaren Technology Centre had a big effect on him, and it’s not difficult to see why: for one thing, you walk into the lobby area, and the first thing you see is a long, long line of cars that have taken Hunt, Lauda, Prost, Senna, Häkkinen, Hamilton et al to the World Championship.

McLaren people tell me that they positively know their financial offer to Button was less than that from Brawn, so I don’t think it’s a matter of money. That said, in the normal course of negotiation, what happens is that it starts with the driver’s manager pitching for an unrealistically high retainer, while the team, for its part, starts off with an offer rather less than it is prepared to pay. At that stage the serious talking begins, until a mutually agreeable figure is arrived at – or not. I’m told that Button’s management was offended by the initial offer made for Jenson’s services, and that by the time the true offer came in, it was too late to keep him from the clutches of McLaren.

Another thing: I’m not sure Mercedes was as enthusiastic about keeping Button as was the existing team. I also think – curious as it may seem – that Button quite fancied the idea of going up against Lewis Hamilton in equal cars.

As for Rosberg, there would have bee no question whatever of his being relegated to test driver at Mercedes – Nico signed his contract long before Button decided to leave, long before Schumacher came on the scene.

Now, Tommy Byrne. It’s a great book, and Byrne undoubtedly had enormous natural talent, which, as you say, we missed out on. Why? Well, as you’ve read the book, I think you’ve probably got some insight into that already. A very great deal of modern F1 is bound up in PR, image and all that stuff, and somehow it’s difficult to imagine Byrne talking the talk and walking the walk, isn’t it? Mention his name to F1 folk who were around at that time, and it’s cleared that Tommy got a lot of people’s backs up: sometimes talent alone is not enough.

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Last lap before Christmas

Rob Widdows — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:00:31 +0000

Last lap before Christmas

Not long till Christmas, so may I draw your attention to a couple of books for those of you wondering what to give a motor racing nut.

The first is a most unusual story. I mention this one because I haven’t read it myself yet and I’m hoping somebody will give it to me next week. Dear Santa… if you know the person, you know the perfect present…
“Crashed and Byrned – The Greatest racing Driver You Never Saw” is the story of an extremely talented racing driver called Tommy Byrne, and is told by a talented journalist called Mark Hughes. This is a book that many of us would have liked to have written but few of us could have done as well as Hughes, who has an eye for detail and a nice turn of phrase.

Tommy Byrne first came to my notice at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in the winter of 1981. I’d been aware of him, seen him at Thruxton, and there was clearly some talent, a natural speed. Then, having replaced Senna da Silva at Van Diemen, (the Brazilian had suddenly and mysteriously returned home, blaming lack of finance), Byrne blew them all away at Brands Hatch. I’m skimping over lots of stuff here – you’ll just have to read the book.

Tommy was immediately signed up for Formula 3 the following year, beating the much-fancied Martin Brundle in the opening round at Thruxton, and going on to win the BP F3 Championship despite missing some races. He missed these because he was already racing Teddy Yip’s Theodore-Ford TY02 in Formula One, making his debut at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim that August, just months after stepping up from Formula Ford. Byrne failed to qualify that weekend but he’d already made a huge impression and was given a test by McLaren at Silverstone in the autumn of 1982. He didn’t get the drive but many who were there that day claimed that his times were the fastest of all.

It’s often been said that Tommy Byrne was as fast as his nemesis Senna da Silva. Certainly there was no love lost between these two very different characters. I am not qualified to say if he was as fast, or he wasn’t, but Byrne was one hell of a racing driver. In those days we had a radio programme called ‘Track Torque’ and Tommy could always be relied upon for some pithy and outspoken conversation. He was confident, possibly too confident, believing that raw talent would take him to the top.

But motor racing isn’t like that. To get to the top, especially in Formula One, your face has to fit. The powerbrokers will be studying the cut of your jib. So, to cut a long story short, it all went wrong for Tommy Byrne. And this is where the book, I’m sure, will be gripping. The Irishman fell foul of wine, women and song. Byrne fled to America where he continued to win races. But his chance of Grand Prix glory was gone.

1983 British Formula 3 Championship, Thruxton, Great Britain. Ayrton Senna leads Davy Jones, Martin Brundle (all Ralt RT3-Toyota) and the field at the start.

The other book I want to recommend is vaguely connected. “The Life of Senna” by Tom Rubython is, in my view, the best of the many books about the great man from Sao Paulo. And, yes, Tommy Byrne is part of the early story which traces Senna’s first steps up the ladder through British Formula Ford and Formula Three. These are revealing chapters, relating the early signs of his fiercely combative, and competitive, spirit. This is a fascinating story and no true motor racing fan should be without a copy.

If books are not your thing, then how about the World Rally Championship DVD? After a huge lunch, or supper, next Thursday you can sit back and ride alongside some of the most daring drivers on the planet. On second thoughts, this might be more comfortable before, rather than after, your Christmas feast.

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Theories on Button and Byrne

Last lap before Christmas