My opinion of Jenson went up a bit over the Top Gear appearance. Not that I'm a fan, but he totally put himself on the line to beat Lewis' time and be told in front of the studio audience what it was. I think all the F1 guys who go on there deserve some credit. Except MS who dodged the driving .

I still think there's no comparison to be made until they do their times in a similar condition.

People have to remember that TOP GEAR isn't a serious comparison, and is done in the spirit of fun.

Jenson was fine, I didn't see him as cocky or arrogant.

I still think Lewis would be faster, but maybe that's just the fanboy in me speaking.

All the same, I can't wait to see them compete next year, and I wish them both luck, as there will be a tough field to compete against, and unless McLaren nail it this year, they might both look under par.

I agree His priority is not beating Ferraris or/and defending the title, his main objective is to be ahead of Lewis. This is wrong...this is not good 4 McLaren. Wake up Jenson!

Surely it's both?

You were in favour of keeping Kova, then? All the time I hear what a great competitor Hamilton is, then along comes a teammate that takes up the challenge (really so far only aims to do it, verbally) and suddenly that's wrong?

Hilarious.

What do you want him to say? "Oh yes, you know I'm happen to be WDC, but I would never dare to challenge the living legend that is Lewis Hamilton." Something like that?

And BTW, it could turn out a bit difficult for Button to defend his title without beating Hamilton...

You'd think he'd balance his "fresh challenge" spin with some PR talk about two British champions in a British team, they will win both championships blah blah blah, but no, it's always about Lewis Hamilton. There's one interview in which the interviewer asked him about his visit to the McLaren factory before he's signed (cue for fantastic facilities, dedicated people etc), but no, he said they're just building of different shapes, it's the challenge (Lewis) behind that attracts him. It's like the facilities that produce race winning cars don't interest him, what matters to him is this is the place where they manufactured Lewis Hamilton. Everyone understand the importance of beating your teammate anyway, he's sooo overdoing it. The British press will be all over the up coming British civil war at the McLaren garage without Button spelling out to them "I'm here to challenge Hamilton". I don't understand why he feels the need to keep on saying that to the media.

funny he thinks Schumacher risks damaging his reputation with a comeback, and acts like he's got no reputation to risk himself.

Kova? Nooo! I was for Raikkonen if you want to know. I´m glad for Button but I just can´t understand his creazy talk. Too much talking about Lewis, that´s all..

I agree. I think he is giving Hamilton too much attention. He looked quite disappointed on top gear.

Its understandable - Button has won the wdc.

I can imagine he is one of those drivers that is happy to win it once and wont be 100% motivated to do it again (kimi anyone ?) so fair play to him - he can see another challenge that will grab his attention - beating the boy wonder Lewis Hamilton. There is also a fair chance that if he can beat Hami then he will be close to the title anyway.


and yes he looked diappointed on Top Gear - hes a racer, none of them want to come second.

Jenson should win this battle comfortably. His mind state is more relaxed, and we all know Hamiltons nerves can get the better of him. Jenson's job is half done

Jenson might win the battle, but if he does I very much doubt it will be comfortably and I would imagine you would admit the same if you wasn't having a go at Lewis for some reason, as for who's mind state, well, it looks like the loser is currently Jenson by all evidence so I don't know where you are coming up with your information, please share your evidence?

Mine is only going on the top gear, flimsy yes, but more then you have proved

The evidence we have is all a bit indirect, but it all points the same way. In his first 3 years Lewis still has scored more points than anyone else including the experienced big hitters of the day. He had the greatest ever rookie season and is the youngest ever wdc.

Jense by contrast is "a good driver" - Williams quite wanted him back after dropping him. Flav sort of wanted him back after dropping him. Honda/Brawn/Merc quite wanted to keep him.

It will be no contest. Jenson's challenge will be to score half Lewis' points like Kovy did, which means on average only 2-3 of Alonso/Massa/Vettel/Schumi being between them. Not to mention Webbo and Nico.

Double 22 and you get 44.

Oh dear ,

51% actually

over the two years ;)

Jensons a good driver, off the top of my head until he won the WDC I would have said he was about the level of Gerhard Berger or Alesi, a top driver, but still below the very best. Next year we will learn hopefully how good he is, lets hope F1 and McLaren are the winner.

I think Hamilton will crush Button, as in kill his career. I'd be shocked if Button even comes close, but I have to say it's really ballsy of him to try. More power to him. Hamilton will out qualify him, out race him, etc. Button's big chance is if his smooth style uses less fuel, but even that is a bit of a stretch.

Possibly better on the tyres race distance?

I think it's going be very, very close on points. Hamilton should be able to outqualify Button, but Button has always had impressive race pace and doesn't make mistakes.

The way I see it... if they have the best car on the grid (large setup window that allows Button to find the sweet spot consistently) then Button beats Hamilton.

A slightly flawed car plays into Hamilton's hands, since his style seems to be a bit more versatile.

It will also depend on how closely bunched the top teams really are. The qualifying advantage I'm supposing for Hamilton will be greatly magnified if there are four teams battling for pole - being a couple of tenths off could be 7th or 8th with his teammate on pole in such a circumstance. If McLaren have a gap to the rest (or if there's only one other team in the mix for pole) then it's far less damaging and Button could make up a couple of places and get ahead of his teammate.

It's all going to be fascinating. I can't think of a season with so many great storylines before a wheel has turned in all my years of watching.

I think Lewis will crush button over the season but I'm not sure about the first race: bahrain. Lewis might struggle there as he never went very good there, malaysia is another example.

Your thoughts?

Lewis was fine in Bahrain in 2007, 2008 went bad cos of his start and crash, and what was wrong with 2009 other than not having the speed to get infront cos the dog of a car? If McLarenbring a competative car i think lewis will be favourite to win in Bahrain.

Malaysia is the same, he went well in 2007, 2008 copped a grid penalty and the mclaren was not fast that weekend, and 2009 again the car was a dog and the conditions changed everything anyway.

i think it be close but somehow u may be right . i hope not

na, I think Buttons, stronger, faster, more experienced then Heikki so I doubt there will be any destroying. McLaren must know what abilities he has, and if they wanted just another patsey, it'd have being cheaper to keep Heikki.

I always thought lewis was a better in race than qualy. jenson basicaly lost it in qualy part way through the year..

Im not sure how big a deal looking after tyres will be either, as long as theres tyre warmers then whoever pits first will go quicker, it just a matter of how much

Except that looking after tyres could mean a 1-stop rather than a 2 or 3-stop race. Saving 20-25 seconds just might be worth going a couple of tenths slower and making the tyres last...

true, im not sure there would be that big a difference tho :x

To be honest, this might favor Brawn GP/Mercedes. Their car last year was extremely easy on the tyres. Now I'm starting to think Mercedes GP might actually be really good next year since they are so easy on the tyres.

interesting quote from Nick wirth on why jensons set-up was wrong:

"Brawn brought out the new front wing development for Jenson Button to run at Suzuka this year and it was a disaster, it didn't work and it screwed his race up. They have a load of aerodynamic technology which says that front wing is good, they put it on the guy trying to win the world championship at a critical race, and it didn't work"

Source: Autosport

I really didn’t know where to quote this but in sorry if this is the wrong topic......anyway, here goes:

I just thought it was interesting to contrast how people in and out of the sport view different drivers and champions. I found this quote from JA on his column on itv.com, I think it’s interesting how he ‘grades’ or divides the 4 world champions (i.e. LH, JB, FA and MS) that will line-up next season. In particular, how he separates JB from the othe WDCs:
-------------------------------------------------
"In Schumacher, Alonso and Hamilton you have proven champions of the highest calibre, in Button you have a very good driver who has made himself champion, Massa is another on his level and then in Vettel you have a driver capable of lifting himself to the highest level; time will tell."
------------------------------------------------
Fairness? Someone once said that 'some are more equal than others'.................. youll be the judge

I'd like to find out how Hamilton has proven himself as a champion. By almost blowing two attempts? Jenson got one at the first opportunity. That's why's the favourite for next year

I've got no axe to grind with Lewis, but how the hell has he proven to be a CHAMPION of the highest calibre ?

By taking on the might of Ferrari in his first season, as well as having to go head to head, against the then current 2x WDC in Alonso. As soon as the Mclaren was competitive, he was winning races. Buttons first 7 races were impressive, because the car was genuinely superior to any other, as soon as that changed, he limped to the title.

I think what Allen said there is right on the mark.

As for Button vs Hamilton; I'm sure it's been said already as it's a half-obvious thing to say, but Button's smoother style might make him a very powerful force in the races. So I'm totally expecting to see some interesting battles on Sundays (atleast towards the end, when Button's tires might, more often than not, be healthier than Hamilton's) between the two. Qualifying is Hamilton's game all the way I think. Two-three tenths.

Lewis has still a lot to show, he is f***** young and still growing we haven´t seen yet Lewis best races what he already has shown its awesome, amazing with just 22y23y, fantastic !!! but the best is still to come so will be dificult to everybody to beat Lewis (will depend always on the McL )....and of course will be nice to see some Jenson overtaking and....

It might do but I've still to be convinced that Lewis won't be able to adapt to the new rules.

Yep, might.

I wouldn't be surprised if this turns out closer than most people are thinking. LH is a fairly extreme driver - he tends to perform exceptionally well or balls it all up spectacularly. A little like Schumacher when he's under pressure. JB on the other hand is less spectacular but more consistent. Even when JB was having a nightmare with qualifying this season he still more or less managed to maximise his points in each race. Would LH manage the same in those circumstances? Not sure.

Assuming of course the car is good, I could see the points per race going something like (for four races) LH: 10, 0, 10, 4....., JB: 6 8 6 6 - both on 24 points.

It's interesting to read Button's recent interview where he reckons the championship could be decided by the next few weeks of testing and preparation. One thing came across, this guy is serious. If he does fail it won't be for the lack of trying. Like many others, I still think ultimately Lewis will come out on top but (for a number of reasons) it may be closer than we all thought.

This. I think we should all stop being so naive, I rate Button quite highly and I do expect him to challenge Hamilton.

...So Button didn't manage to win the race Hamilton retired from?

(Laphroaig is better )

I couldn't help thinking he was copying Lewis TBH. Quite rightly of course. But it's new from Jense isn't it, at that level, what he was saying was the Hamilton approach: be the best prepared. Not that I don't respect Jense giving it everything as you say. Just something slightly 'following' about it.

A bit like seeing Michael suddenly with the mic addressing the guys at the factory and a little movie of it, a la Lewis. Vettel desperate for people to think he'd have beaten Lewis without the brake pad problem. All eyes are on Hammy. Jenson's especially of course. I expect we'll see Fernando at Madonna di Campiglio too...

Wouldn't Jenson have 26 points?

I am so excited about next season! I think the in terms of points, Jenson won't be far behind Lewis. Certainly not as far back as Heikki was, and I fully expect Jenson to beat Lewis at plenty of races but I would still put my money on Lewis. Here's hoping for a great 2010.

I'll bet my money on hamilton bigtime, if he can rattle alonso in the same car i'd imagine button having an awful time, considering he could hardly keep up with barrichello in the 2nd half of 2009.

Should be a cracker

I just hope that we can deliver a car capable of winning races...

yep. Need to hit the ground running as well or 'on the front foot' as Brundle would say. Hopefully the spectre of early last year will have spurred everyone on.

yep very essential.... I was just wondering, if things at the front are as tight as expected...and there is no clear car advantage...whoever wins the WDC in the end is likely to move up considerably on F1 drivers all time rankings.... that is how epic the season is looking on preview.

a small part of me fears though, it could all turn into a damp squib..... e.g. Ferrari builds a rocket ship via some rules manipulation n Alonso trots to title or something like that.

well at the very least, the intra team battles will be fascinating

Indeed, the projected top teams of this season have some of the strongest driver line ups that we've seen in a really really long while.

Now, had they only banned the DDD for this year, we'd actually see these guys doing some overtaking too

the overtakers will overtake, Double Ds or not


and you wont see much diff. in 2011 either when DDDs are banned....


tracks are more to blame than anything for lack of overtaking

compare Brazil 09 (though aided by weird qualifying session) to Valencia (every race there)

No, because quietly Alonso was doing 8-10-8-10 ...