Just how good is Button?
Posted: 19.10.2008, 06:33
I know opinions on his vary but here's my thoughts...
Currently: For the 2nd season on the trot, JB has had a car/tractor (delete as preffered) that has not been up to scratch to say the very least. His dedication and commitment to Honda, Nick Fry and now Ross Brawn are to be commended. But Barrichello has now out-qualified him wiht but one race to go. Looking at the bare stats, for a man who may retire, that must be a little embarrasing for JB, and perhaps a little concerning for Ross Brawn who has high expectations of his drivers after his dealings with Schumacher.
On the plus side, I still firmly believe that Jenson is up there with Alonso, Raikkonen, Massa, Kubica and Hamilton but he needs the car. personally, if he was alongside Lewis, I actually think that in qualifying, he'd be ahead but loose out a little in the race.
That said, when he did have a car worthy of his talent, (witness the 2004 season) he was second only to the dominant Ferrari's! He is brilliantly smooth in the wet or on a damp track, whether on wets or dry tyres, and his ability to consistently produce laptimes within 0.1s of eachother is only matched by the current top 5 drivers.
He has had his problems but I just hope and pray that Brawn and his Honda team design a great car for 2009 (they did start the design process significantly earlier than everyone else) and that JB can fight at the front, where he belongs.
I still think that in the right circumstances he can win races on a regular basis and become another British wiorld champion - and in terms of sheer determination and dedication over the past few seasons, wouldn't that be a great thing to see, and fully deserved?
I think so...
what about you?
Currently: For the 2nd season on the trot, JB has had a car/tractor (delete as preffered) that has not been up to scratch to say the very least. His dedication and commitment to Honda, Nick Fry and now Ross Brawn are to be commended. But Barrichello has now out-qualified him wiht but one race to go. Looking at the bare stats, for a man who may retire, that must be a little embarrasing for JB, and perhaps a little concerning for Ross Brawn who has high expectations of his drivers after his dealings with Schumacher.
On the plus side, I still firmly believe that Jenson is up there with Alonso, Raikkonen, Massa, Kubica and Hamilton but he needs the car. personally, if he was alongside Lewis, I actually think that in qualifying, he'd be ahead but loose out a little in the race.
That said, when he did have a car worthy of his talent, (witness the 2004 season) he was second only to the dominant Ferrari's! He is brilliantly smooth in the wet or on a damp track, whether on wets or dry tyres, and his ability to consistently produce laptimes within 0.1s of eachother is only matched by the current top 5 drivers.
He has had his problems but I just hope and pray that Brawn and his Honda team design a great car for 2009 (they did start the design process significantly earlier than everyone else) and that JB can fight at the front, where he belongs.
I still think that in the right circumstances he can win races on a regular basis and become another British wiorld champion - and in terms of sheer determination and dedication over the past few seasons, wouldn't that be a great thing to see, and fully deserved?
I think so...
what about you?