Jenson Button

Arguably the best ever driver in mixed conditions, all his wins at Mclaren have come in those conditions. His last race win in the dry came at the 2009 Turkish GP.

Button is known for his smooth driving style and is normally seen in must races doing one less stop than his rivals for tyres.

Buttons also know to be a bit of a practical joker and will take part in anything fun.

Since his debut in 2000 Button has won the majority of hearts in this country. But what is your favourite JB win?

Mine has to be Hungaroring 2006, in argubly a midfield team and he won the race in those mixed conditions to take his first win. I can remember James Allen been in tears almost and that was the first race Anthony Davidson ever commentated on.

 

[Bill Boddy]

This is a reply to an off topic post The reason that Button was not wanted at Renault was that Flabio only wanted drivers who were under his own management, just look at how quickly he got rid of Trulli when he was no longer under Briatore's management.

When he moved to BAR he was definitely considered as their number two driver but finished up as number one.

In the 2004 season there was one car far faster than the rest. But who came third in what was not the second fastest car? He had 10 podiums in 16 races, 4 of them second places (three ahead of Barrichello and the fourth ahead of Schumacher).

Then when Barrichello joined the team in 2006 Button scored 50% more points than Barrichello.

In 2008 Ross Brawn joined what by then was the Honda team, he said that he was surprised by the pace of Button, he was much quicker than he expected him to be.

Button may not be the fastest driver on the grid but I consider him to be much closer than many give him credit for and in conditions where a feel for slippery conditions is required he is as good as any.

 

[teabagyokel]

If Williams had kept Button on instead of Montoya, could he have won the 2003 Championship?

 

[mnmracer]

Depends on whose consideration of Button's greatness you take. He is definitely in the 'best of the rest' group (imo with at least Webber and good-day Massa), but also definitely (sorry) not in the VAH group.

Been excited about him from the day of his face-off with Junquera, but I'm sorry, he's not on the top level.

 

[Jen]

Odd that, I could have sworn that he had won a WDC at some stage!

 

[mnmracer]

So did Jacques Villeneuve.
Do you really think that in 10 years, when a top 20 drivers of all times is made, Jenson is there alongside Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton?

 

[Jen]

Yes

 

[RasputinLives]

I would have agreed with you @mmmracer until the 2011 season. I think how well he did that year is often dismissed by the phrase 'Hamilton was off form'. Take Hamilton out of the equation and he still had an amazing year and was the only person really to push Vettel in the'super Red Bull. Maybe he wouldn't be my first choice but if I wanted a driver I knew would drive my car to its full potential then I think I'd go with Jenson.

Funny how he can in on a wave of hype but then ever since 2004 has been performing above any media expectations.

 

[mnmracer]

Just as I think 2011 is not indicative of Hamilton, I don't think it is of Button either. As often has been discussed, the McLaren was not 122 points slower than the Red Bull, and it had the pace to score more than 12 podiums, certainly with Webber in the allegedly rocket Red Bull not being on 10 of them. Despite that, I think his 2011 was better than his 2009 season, where he was just out of it in the last half.

 

[RasputinLives]

No dedication. I've never been a massive Jenson fan. I just think he's shown he has the skill when he needs it.

As for those drivers who have won titles because they've been in the best cars I bet you the list of drivers not winning titles despite having the best car is longer. You make the most of what you have and Jenson always has done plus lets not rewrite history here when the 2009 season began Jenson Button had a team mate with far more wins and title experience than he had. A team mate who was far more used to working with the man running the team than Jenson was. A team mate who had finished in front if him the season previous, he was in no way the out and out number one driver champion elect. Add to the fact the this 'rocketship' people talk about was only such until around the British Grand Prix and then Jenson had to fight the comeback in a car that had no budget to develop and I think you need to give Button a bit more credit.

Throw in the fact he jumped into the lions den of Lewis Hamilton and rather than getting eaten just peed all over it and made it his territory then I think he deserves to be talked about amongst the best just for his giant kahunas more than anything else

 

[teabagyokel]

RasputinLives - I thought that was his dad?

 

[EvilWhippet]

If Williams had kept Button on instead of Montoya, could he have won the 2003 Championship?

I would say no as, although Button's a far more consummate pro and has always been more dedicated and smarter driver than Montoya, Montoya had rare natural talent that I don't think Button was ever blessed with.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Rare or raw talent is not necessarily the only thing that a sportsman needs if you don't mind I would like to draw an analogy from other sports lets take snooker for instance, the players with the most natural talent are probably Ronnie O Sullivan, Alex Higgins and Jimmy White and the ones with talent plus the need to practice and to train that talent are Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry and it is the latter that have got all the records Davis 6 times world champion Hendry 7 times world champion and holds the record for the most century breaks by far.

Then there is football look at George Best some say he was the most naturally gifted footballer ever to put on a pair of boots but what good did it do him.

No raw talent on it's own is no guarantee of success in fact if it is relied on alone it is a guarantee of minimum success and lots of failure. Montoya is just one example of this fact in F1....

 

[RasputinLives]

Well George Best did win the European Cup and play in one of the greatest teams ever assembled but I understand what you're saying. Gazza may have been a better example.

To sum up though I think you mean slowly slowly catchy monkey

 

[Brogan]

I'd far rather watch Ronnie play than Steve Davis though

 

[Il_leone]

Bill Boddy

It was strange time at Benetton/ Renault under Briatore who signed him up as potentially the next big thing

He outqualified Fisi first race and then only managed to outqualify him once the rest of the season rumours were his engine was 50 bhp down on power

the infamous yacht incident at Monaco where Jenson unfortunately only had one place left to moor it and it was near the full gaze of Briatore who started accusing him of playboy ( that is rich picking from a man who knocked up Heidi Klum)

Button response to the media was " What do you want me to do , read Shakespear!"

Briatore even let it known " He would have loved to kept Fisichella but could not because of contract obligation" - in other words he wanted Trulli and Fisi not Button - both who were under his management and Fisi was his golden boy pre Alonso

Bill Boddy
Whilst people praise Trulli's 1 lap speed they were more than impressed by Button's race pace and cruelly denied a podium in Sepang on last lap

His impressive form gradually faded as contract talks broke down over an improved contract that also included signing up to Flavio's stable - giving away 25% commission and therefore negate his pay rise

His career was saved by Dave Richards who at BAR had faith in him and felt he had the potential to be team leader.
- he did not any extra motivation with Jacques Villeneuve trying to outpsyche him before the season started

Button in a 2003 Williams may well have won the title ..certainly he would not be making as many mistakes as Montoya had that year

 

[Lewywo4]

So did Jacques Villeneuve.
Do you really think that in 10 years, when a top 20 drivers of all times is made, Jenson is there alongside Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton?

That determiniation about Jenson, can only be made after he decides when to retire, but as it stands now......no.

 

[Il_leone]

Jenson in the top 20 for that to happen he needs a few more seasons like 2011 and show now he can lead Mclaren after Hamilton has left which may help
another world title definitely would help off course

 

[Mephistopheles]

So did Jacques Villeneuve.
Do you really think that in 10 years, when a top 20 drivers of all times is made, Jenson is there alongside Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton?

The list of top 20 drivers is nothing more than someones bias opinion there is no mathematical or scientific model to it in any way shape or form. and therefore is as worthless as a wellington boot with a hole in it.

And therefore Jenson will always be in my top 20 as will Hamilton and unless Vettel moves teams and proves himself elsewhere he will never be in it....

 

[Bill Boddy]

Confucious he say if a wellington boot does not have a hole you will have difficulty putting it on.

 

[Il_leone]

Mephistopheles

Bias opinion.. I am not sure who else you think should be in the top 20

according to my memory in the BBC's top 20 the only driver who was missing having won 20 races plus was Damon Hill

I can only think of him and maybe Kimi should have been there than other drivers