What Jenson should have done

[wowf1]

I've been thinkin recently about Jenson's season, and in particular his decision to avoid Williams and sign with Honda. Clearly, this season isn't going as planned. The car is not quick enough, this is the fundamental problem. However, I believe that Jenson's confidence is low, no matter what himself or (the annoyingly optimistic) Nick Fry says. He's had the media, and essentially the whole sport on his back about not winning, and I feel that he's in a bit of a rut.

I feel that if he had signed perhaps a 1-year deal with Williams, he would have been in a fairly competitive car. (not on the level of Honda, I will admit) He would also have kept the positive public perception of him and his management intact, due to aversion of a controversial deal.

The next step in the plan would have been to sign for Renault for 2007. We all know Fisichella is not up to scratch. His emotions, and inferiority-complex to Alonso get in the way of him being any good. We also know that Alonso won't be there in 2007. This leaves 2 free race seats at the fastest team on the grid. Clearly there would have been a few other contenders for the seats: Montoya, Raikonnen, Kovaleinen etc. But given Jenson's previous time with the team, and also the fact that he's still considered in the top 5 drivers in F1, I think he stood a good chance.

Being at Renault for 2007-onwards would have given Jenson his best opportunity for winning races and possibly World Championships. You might say that being at Williams in 2006 wouldn't have got him any wins. But realistically, I can't see Honda winning this year.

Clearly my idea relies on Jenson knowing of Renault's long-term commitment to F1. And also on being able to negotiate a 1-year deal with Williams, while simultaneously negotiating with Renault for 2007. However, I believe Jenson would be in better stead for the future.

As it stands, I can see Jenson becoming discontented with Honda and the performance, and losing yet more confidence. He may end up getting more and more stuck in that rut.

I just hope I'm wrong!

[johny]

i see much castles in the sky thinking there

It's an option i don't contemplate seing button back in renault, we know how he get out.

[nae]

and moving into the defending champs car and not winning would destroy his already fragile ego. nah he is best to stick with honda as they will pile on the € till they win and more till they win again

[wazojugs]

I think we will see Mark Webber in the Renault next year, with Hekki Kovalainen as a number 2. There is no chance that unbutton will back there.

[wowf1]

I agree that we probably won't see Button back there. I have to say I don't think seeing Webber in the Renault is very likely either. I did consider the fact that Honda are another team that doesn't mind throwing money into their F1 program, but I find it hard to believe that Honda will be a title contender within the next 3 years. It seems they (at the moment) lack the stability and depth of engineering and management to put together a top car.

[kilcoo316]

As it stands, I can see Jenson becoming discontented with Honda and the performance, and losing yet more confidence. He may end up getting more and more stuck in that rut.

Good, hopefully that will be the case, and Honda dump him to Champcars


I can't stand the idiotic decision ITV made to revolve their whole F1 coverage around Button.

[Principessa]

I don't think that Button made the wrong decision by wanting to stay with the Honda team. The only thing that is Button's problem is that he doesn't have IT to win. When he starts on pole, he can't finish the job and win. Of course there have been some problems with Honda this season (think back to the refuelling-ring incident) but I think that the problem is Button himself. He is a professional sportsman but doesn't really act like one. He should stop whinning that the media is on his back about not winning a race and should prove them wrong. He should just stop listening to the press and behave like a real sportsman. Btw: he should also be careful with what he says in interviews and should think twice before saying something! (As I still haven't forgotten the things he said about woman in F1 only a few months ago!!)

Button, it's time to start driving and time to stop whinning. He has the talent and the skills, now he just has to use them!!

[kilcoo316]

(As I still haven't forgotten the things he said about woman in F1 only a few months ago!!)

Hell hath no fury like a woman's fury

But that surely contradicts man's number one rule (among the 20 or so number 1 rules )...

Anything said more than a week ago is invalid for an argument, and anything said while drunk is immediately invalid

[wowf1]

I'm afraid I don't quite agree Princepessa! I do believe Jenson has what it takes. However, as we know, F1 and motorsport is a very psychologically based sport. If your car, your team, your fans and the media are all pointing in the same direction: pro-you, then it becomes a lot more straight-forward to be successful. More importantly, it become easier to sustain this success. Alonso is currently in this 'perfect' zone, and clearly he is reaping the rewards. Button also needs to find this zone. However, I don't pretend that this zone happens by accident. The drivers must earn it both on and off the track.

I think a fresh start at an already-top-team would do wonders for Button's confidence and the public perception of him. Button at Mclaren anyone? hehe

[DaveKillens]

I think the addition of de Ferren was a positive move for Honda, although I had serious doubts when it was announced. Although they have suffered some crappy luck, bad engines, and a car unable to sustain pace the entire race, I think they are getting closer to winning.
Reubens has finally learned the new car, and I'm sure his input will start to benefit the team. So far he has been busy just coming to grips with the new environment, now he will start to offer good suggestions.
At over a hundred races, Button has to stop leaning on excuses and just get down to business. Fire his manager, focus on just racing, and ignore the press. Shu is under even tighter scrutiny by the German press, yet he manages to function with them looking over his shoulder.
Jenson has the experience and skills, his head is just screwed on a bit wrong right now.

[captainmorgan]

In a previous post I described my theory as to why Button has never won. In short, he is reputedly a very smooth driver in terms of driver inputs but this for naught without the ability to drive at the limits of grip.

So my hypothesis is that Jenson actually isn't driving at the limit. I can't remember any race where he spun out. Also, how fast can you be if you never trigger traction control?

Lastly, there was one race this year, Australia or Imola I believe, where his race suffered due to slow tire warming after numerous safety cars. In that race, you could see Alonso rotating his car left and right with oversteer to warm tires, but Button did not. I include this point mostly as an afterthought, to me it suggests Button doesn't encounter tire slip enough to be familiar with it.

Does anyone know or have you heard evidence to disprove this hypothesis?

[jaslfc]

regarding the warming of the tyres.. jenson himself said the honda could not be thrown around like that. i dont quite agree to u about his pace because he has been consintently quicker than his teammates.. frm jv, sato and now barrichelo.. but i would like to add that he seems to always fall behind during the middle stint. is it psyhological? or is the car really bad when you put in fuel and new tires..
and lastly i would like to add, there is too much pressure on him by the british public.. maybe thats has inflenced his pace as well

[m3_lover]

my two cents- They should have kept David Richards because under his leadership he brought to second place in 2004.

[kimi146]

he shud have switched to some other team in 2007

[jgredline]

Both Button and mark webber in my opinion are highly over rated.
As much as I am not fond of michael shumacher, fernando alonso, kimi riakonen, those three drivers are the best right now because their respective cars were built arounf them and their driving style. Those drivers also have the unique ability to maintain and increase their pace as the race goes on.
Buttons car was built around him, not rubens and at that he still can't win. Honda have very good engines and their chassis is good enough to get on poll or the front row and its not funning that much lighter than the other cars. Button simply fades as the race goes on. For the recorn I am a JPM fan and he too is suffering from brain fade at the moment.
If you paired up Kimi with frenando over at renault, fernando will beat kimi.
If fernando was over at mclaren Kimi would beat him again because the cars are built arounf the number ones. Always have and always will be.