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I don't want to labour the point, because much of what you say I agree with completely, but I didn't see 2004 as being such a fantastic season as all that. He was outqualified by Sato seven times for a start. He undoubtedly got some good results and showed impressive consistency, but no better than other apparent midfielders suddenly presented with a good car - e.g. Frentzen at Jordan in 1999 - and while many doubtless disagreed, my impression then was that many thought that (Frentzen) was about Jenson's level. Certainly it was uncharacteristic of BAR to produce a good car, but that was more down to the tribulations of Williams with their walrus nose and McLaren with their dreadfully unreliable and slow car evolved from the unraced MP4-18. He was more often in front of than behind Alonso's Renault on the grid, and Button is not a noted qualifier.
I don't want to labour the point, because much of what you say I agree with completely, but I didn't see 2004 as being such a fantastic season as all that. He was outqualified by Sato seven times for a start. He undoubtedly got some good results and showed impressive consistency, but no better than other apparent midfielders suddenly presented with a good car - e.g. Frentzen at Jordan in 1999 - and while many doubtless disagreed, my impression then was that many thought that (Frentzen) was about Jenson's level.
Certainly it was uncharacteristic of BAR to produce a good car, but that was more down to the tribulations of Williams with their walrus nose and McLaren with their dreadfully unreliable and slow car evolved from the unraced MP4-18. He was more often in front of than behind Alonso's Renault on the grid, and Button is not a noted qualifier.