Monza, how good was Button?
Discussion
I was seriously impressed with JB's drive at the weekend. Alonso himself was full of praise for him (a rare even in itself), saying he didn't make a single mistake, something he was waiting for just 1 sec behind, for most of the race. McLaren's pitstop was 0.8 seconds slower than Ferrari and Button would have come out ahead if McLaren had only matched Ferrari's time. Had JB won that race I think it would have been the greatest drive of his career to date.
He was really struggling to deal with the pressure of leading last year's championship. Many other drivers have struggled to deal with the pressure of having Hamilton as their team mate. Whereas Button seems is positively thriving at McLaren when many, including me, didn't fancy his chances. In LH's own words 'He's the best team mate I've ever had.'
He was really struggling to deal with the pressure of leading last year's championship. Many other drivers have struggled to deal with the pressure of having Hamilton as their team mate. Whereas Button seems is positively thriving at McLaren when many, including me, didn't fancy his chances. In LH's own words 'He's the best team mate I've ever had.'
Edited by The Pits on Thursday 16th September 10:37
The Pits said:
In LH's own words 'He's the best team mate I've ever had.'
I seriously doubt that he ment it in the way you're implying it. If anything, at the start of the season, he said how good of a driver he thought Alonso was, and how tough it was competing directly against him. I'm not sure that has changed, certainly not by Button.I thought it was a good drive, but people seem too be putting to much on the pit stop. Yes, Ferrari were faster, but surely Button's bad outlap had more to do with it than the pitstop being a 10th (or so?) slower than Ferrari's?
Great drive none the less.
''I'm tired of driving carefully, it's time to take some risks" -JB
Nice to hear.
Great drive none the less.
''I'm tired of driving carefully, it's time to take some risks" -JB
Nice to hear.
Edited by Doorkins on Thursday 16th September 13:13
Doorkins said:
I thought it was a good drive, but people seem too be putting to much on the pit stop. Yes, Ferrari were faster, but surely Button's bad outlap had more to do with it than the pitstop being a 10th (or so?) slower than Ferrari's?
Great drive none the less.
''I'm tired of driving carefully, it's time to take some risks" -JB
Nice to hear.
Pit stop was close on a second slower than the Ferrari which is what did him.Great drive none the less.
''I'm tired of driving carefully, it's time to take some risks" -JB
Nice to hear.
Edited by Doorkins on Thursday 16th September 13:13
I've been saying all along that Lewis needs to learn a bit of race craft from Button and Monza really showed why. Button was only actually quick for one lap of the weekend - Qualifying 3. He didn't have anywhere near the pace that Lewis had or the two Ferraris and his gamble on a high wing set up to conserve tyres didn't pay off either. However by driving extremely well he came very close to winning the race.
Edited by CampDavid on Thursday 16th September 13:25
CampDavid said:
Pit stop was close on a second slower than the Ferrari which is what did him.
I've been saying all along that Lewis needs to learn a bit of race craft from Button and Monza really showed why. Button was only actually quick for one lap of the weekend - Qualifying 3. He didn't have anywhere near the pace that Lewis had or the two Ferraris and his gamble on a high wing set up to conserve tyres didn't pay off either. However by driving extremely well he came very close to winning the race.
Wasn't Button prone to crashing into people though? Hamilton might mellow out during his career. I've been saying all along that Lewis needs to learn a bit of race craft from Button and Monza really showed why. Button was only actually quick for one lap of the weekend - Qualifying 3. He didn't have anywhere near the pace that Lewis had or the two Ferraris and his gamble on a high wing set up to conserve tyres didn't pay off either. However by driving extremely well he came very close to winning the race.
Edited by CampDavid on Thursday 16th September 13:25
I think JB is the more mature, intelligent driver but he does often get stuck behind people once the race beds in and I often find myself wishing he was a bit more attacking like Hamilton. That said, I'm a 'newbie', this being only the second year I've been watching so I'm not sure to watch extent fuel saving plays a part in that.
Edited by Doorkins on Thursday 16th September 13:45
It was a great drive, soaked up the pressure well and did a brilliant job.
I was one of the people who thought hamilton would crush him this year, and am pleasently suprised at how well he has done.
Hopefully he will keep up this sort of performance, especially qualifying for the season remainder.
I was one of the people who thought hamilton would crush him this year, and am pleasently suprised at how well he has done.
Hopefully he will keep up this sort of performance, especially qualifying for the season remainder.
I thought JB did relly well. It was clear Alonso had the faster car and it's not easy to drive half a race looking in the mirrors all the time. He didn't make any half-serious mistakes. I don't think I've seen JB have to drive defensively before, so under new conditions he did well. It was the team that let him down in the final analysis.
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