Jenson has always been a good driver, he was just always in the bad car. Except for that one season in the BAR Honda where they did pretty well at the end of the season. And even winning his first GP that season
Massa's WDC chances for this year are gone, but AFAIK he has a contract for 2010. If Alonso, Kubica or Vettel replace Kimi, Felipe is likely to stay on. Next year's Ferrari with loosened up KERS rules might be a different story altogether.
Ferrari? Jenson would be dead last! He's better off at Brawn GP, probably until the end of his career. The fact that he's outrunning Ruebens shows he has decent speed, but Button is NOT legend material, even if he won WDC.
His WDC chances ended in Interlagos last season. He doesn't have what it takes (racecraft) to be competitive with the low aero.
Well, I have to say, I didn't think Jenson was all that good, but boy was I wrong, the guy is doing a wonderful job and hope he wins more races and the WDC this season. It sure is making it exciting having BRAWN, Toyota, and Williams running near the front.
You see? That's the trouble. We see someone getting great results and think they're God, and someone getting lousy results and thinking he's a disaster. It's the car. Every one of those guys could be the WDC if their car was up to the job and if their car had an advantage. We'll never know how good some of those back markers really are until they're in a front running car. We'll never know which driver is the best because we'll never know which car is truly the best and by how much.
yes! i was told by doc bundy when i was young..."best car always wins!" he had more than a clue when making that statement.
+1 This is why I find the results between teammates interesting. I wonder if old Rubens can start winning and take the fight to Jense?
I posted my statement 8-15-2008, back then the ferraris were running strong. Brawn GP did not exist back then.
We have a saying in bullseye pistol competition: You're only as good as your equipment allows you to be. Buy as many points as you can, then earn the rest. That's what we're seeing here. JB--another one of those overnight successes about nine years in the making. The longer he stays around and learns things, the luckier he gets.
Jenson's performance yesterday was classic & very reminiscent of what Brawn & MS used to do. Track the leaders & then slot in a few (sometimes unseen) very, very quick laps around pitstop time so that when the leaders had all pitted he was out front by an unexpectedly large margin & we all sit there looking at it saying "how's he manage that?????" Unless they were leading from the get-go, Schu (& Brawn) did that timne after time I seem to recall.
That is brilliant. So...the longer one stays in one's field of occupation or interest the luckier, and therefor more successful, one gets. Amazing. By this logic I, as a fellow in business, should be a millionaire won in my own sort of lottery of luck and fortune. So, where is it? That logic is a-mazing considering the fact that in 2008 Hamilton was WDC while his teammate Kovalainen was 7th. If it is simply a matter of the car being, "up to job", then it should have been a McMercedes 1-2, No? So where does this disdain for Button come from? He's a talented driver, driving an intelligently designed car designed by an intelligent and talented team. When has the formula for success in the sport ever...ever, deviated from this? - Christopher
And btw, this season proves to me that every driver is so close in talent that it is ALL about the cars. Lewis, Kimi, Fernando, and Felipe - all done for the year unless the cars get better. Do you all realize that Jenson Button is going to be Champion this year? He's won what, 3 race's his entire career. Long live F1 and the development...
My summary of JB looked quite good till I got to the bit in bold. I must remember to never say never!
So compare them with other guy in other cars. The US rally guy Tanner Faust in his first run in an RoC buggy beat Button who had experience racing the RoC buggys. Jensen is no Moss, no legend. He's a journeyman F1 specialist who can minimise errors and drive a winning car where they want it to go. Compare JB's RoC effort with MS or Vettel and I believe the answer is clear. The RoC gives us a chance to compare in an era with F1 drivers limited in their other competition drives. No more sportscar racing for most.