Jenson Button, limping to the finish
Posted 6 months, 1 week ago.
Posted by: Kohl
I have to admit, I’m not the biggest F1 watcher. And I tried really hard to get into this year after playing a lot of the BATRACER F1 management game I reviewed earlier. To be honest, I’d rather play that game than watch an F1 race. That is an awful thing to say, but, the races are processional, and the bull—- that goes on is unbelievable. I’ll try again next year, when USGPE enters, but, I just find it hard to enjoy, particularly without ANY American connection.
All that said, I follow it enough to understand that Jenson Button is LIMPING to the finish in what has to be one of the most painful ways possible. He won 6 races, and finished in the top part of the field, but, now he’s struggling to make points. I know the other teams have caught them, but still, Rubens Barrichello has been able to win since Button’s started struggling. I have no idea why it’s happening, but it doesn’t look good for him.
Bernie Eccolstone made one of the DUMBEST statements I have ever heard saying he thought that if they had adopted his “medals” system, the title would be more up for grabs than it is now. I don’t know how he said that with a straight face, but, he works with Max Mosley, so, who knows. I think Vettel has an okay shot to win, but he needs to come out strong at Monza, and he needs at least 2-3 wins, Button to keep struggling, and to basically be podium now through Abu Dhabi, which sounds like it could be a Montreal level failure. Vettel really lost a great opportunity at Valencia, and I don’t know if with the resurgence of Ferrari and Mclaren if he’ll be able to get enough points to do it.
On that thread, next year I see Ferrari, Mclaren, and Red Bull battling for the championship, and Brawn, Williams, and Toyota back to the midfield, if Toyota’s even there next year. Red Bull is a really good group right now, and it’s got good funding. If Honda still funded Brawn, I would consider it a contender next year, but, I don’t think they’ll be able to keep up with the development. Red Bull can, though, and so Vettel will likely have a better chance next year to win the title, and better for him, he’ll do it on an even field with Ferrari and Mclaren, so he won’t deal with the ”asterisk” many will put on Button, should he win.
All this said, I don’t think that this shows any major flaw in the current points system. I prefer the Indy car system, but in that one Vettel would still be a fair ways back, and Button would still be way above him. Same with NASCAR, in fact Vettel would have an even harder time, unless they had “the chase”, but, the less spoke of that the better. Medals, well, Button would be about to clinch the title, so I have no idea why Bernie thought it would be a good idea.
So, basically, I think this is still Button’s title. I hope he enjoys it, because I think he’ll probably never win again, and no top team will want him when compared to people like Sebastion Vettel and Fernando Alonso. So, it’s his year in the sun and next year he’ll be back to barely making points, if he’s not there already. Just think Jacques Villinueve, but a little less whinny.
Posted in Formula One | 7 comments
Tags: F1, Jenson Button
I think the problem is still the cars – they’ve been trying to fix them to get them to overtake easier, but it didn’t work.
Also a number of the new tracks lately are… awful
Yeah, all the new tracks are either cookie cutter road courses or street courses.
Dylan, they hate America. After reading a lot of what you’ve written, you can’t seem to separate America from any of your arguments and articles — Who cares if there isn’t an American team. Does that make the racing suffer? Absolutely not. And to say there isn’t any American connection is terribly incorrect. Tons of the sponsors on the cars are located in America, if not grown and based in America. Let the America thing go — Who cares if this illusion of a great country is part of the sport? I sure as hell don’t.
I don’t understand why you think Honda support for Brawn would make them a contender next year… Honda couldn’t cut it in F1, hence they LEFT. Are you saying Honda support is better than Mercedes support?
Button is crashing and burning, but I think it has just as much to do with the other cars catching up as it does with him. Also, that team is very, very young, I have a feeling the team has as much to do with it as he does.
I also completely disagree with you on the racing. It’s a spectacular chess match most weeks. Some of the tracks are awful, but your beloved NASCAR has a high percentage of tracks that are just as bad if not worse(see Cali, Michigan, Kansas, Pocono, etcetera), that happens in every sport. Some stadiums in baseball suck. The new Cowboy’s stadium is a museum, not a football stadium. It happens.
Just because the cars aren’t running in close proximity doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on. The races are rarely boring, rarely disappoint. It’s a high stakes, high risk chess match.
As for Bernie — He’s an idiot, but you can’t take away from the fact that unlike the ignorant NASCAR hierarchy, he isn’t settling. NASCAR settled with the success they were having and kept giving more of the same. What’s happened? The product has died, or at least it continues to die. Gotta give it to Bernie to keep putting ideas out there. Maybe many of them do suck, but F1 is one of the most impressive performances in Motorsport today and it isn’t good enough for Bernie — Sounds spectacular to me. The best in any sport don’t get that tag because they sit around and cash out on the product(thanks, NASCAR), they keep putting new ideas out there. Kobe Bryant isn’t one of the best because he stopped learning. Hank Aaron wasn’t the best because he took his foot off the pedal. Cal Ripkin wasn’t the best because he gave into an injury.
Might I ask.. What’s the issue with the points system? You’re rewarded for racing the best. That’s an issue? I’m sorry, I’m a huge Karl Marx fan and am all for equal opportunity for everyone, but give me a break. Little Leaguers shouldn’t get trophy’s for finishing dead last and winless, and you shouldn’t get a point for finishing dead last in a race.
Hmm… Bringing my A game today
Good article though bud, keep it rolling.
With the points system, what I’m saying is that there should be no changes. Basicly, I’m aruing against a NASCAR type change because I know some may feel Button doesn’t deserve the champoinship.
As for Honda, what I meant was Honda money behind them, not engines. They’re probably better off with Mclerans anyways.
Yeah, NASCAR is incredibly complacent.
Sorry, I missed your argument concerning the points system. That’s on me, my fault
I’d also have to say that having Sir Richard Branson in your pocket is better than Honda. The dude owns his own island and is knighted… How can you get any more pimp than that? 50 Cent’s terrible solution to GatorsSukAde and Powerade doesn’t compare!
NASCAR is a joke. Give me the old days back, I miss them
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But, I thought Sir Richard Branson was moving his sponsorship to Manor next year?
Hmm not sure, haven’t heard that but I may have missed it. He’s normally not the 1 year and out type, see Virgin Records, Megastore, and the arduous process of building on his island. Maybe he will move on, no idea here, I haven’t heard anything about it. All I know is that would be a complete reversal of his character, but hell some people change