[enrisaabsotte]

Following on from a point in another thread, there's a stereotype which would suggest that Jenson Button doesn't always look like the most spectaular driver, but he's methodical and calculating and blessed with a remarkable sympathy for his car.

Lewis Hamilton is the one you'd pay to watch, he's clearly a frighteningly quick driver but there's always the fear that he'll make a rash move or let his heart rule his head.

Obviously it's far to early to draw concusions, but after Australia those stereotypes ring true. Nobody really noticed Jenson all weekend yet his inspired tactical call put him in position to win the race, his steady laps in the mid-race ensured his tyres survived for over 50 laps to complete the job.

Lewis had a run-in with the law, fluffed qually then lashed out at his team over the radio, yet few would rule out his winning races this season.

They're both World Champions, and now they're both at McLaren. Are we seeing parallels to an earlier era when that team were home to Alain and Ayrton?

As they say at Olympic throwing events: discus.

[Seerseraxlils]

Following on from a point in another thread, there's a stereotype which would suggest that Jenson Button doesn't always look like the most spectaular driver, but he's methodical and calculating and blessed with a remarkable sympathy for his car.

Lewis Hamilton is the one you'd pay to watch, he's clearly a frighteningly quick driver but there's always the fear that he'll make a rash move or let his heart rule his head.

Obviously it's far to early to draw concusions, but after Australia those stereotypes ring true. Nobody really noticed Jenson all weekend yet his inspired tactical call put him in position to win the race, his steady laps in the mid-race ensured his tyres survived for over 50 laps.

They're both World Champions, and now they're both at McLaren. Are we seeing parallels to an earlier era when that team were home to Alain and Ayrton?

.

NO!

[pkxlugbsbv]

Some parallels can certainly be drawn -- if this wasn't just a one-off, if Button can actually match and beat Hamilton quite regularly. We'll see!

[mloversia]

I think more often than not races will be dictated by pace and not strategy. Considering that Hamilton has been faster pacewise for both races, I think Hamilton will get the better of Button during the season.

Which is why Button needed to deliver here.

[dexterljohnthefinanceguy]

Maybe, but there won't be a duel. There are too many great drivers, too many great teams, Jenson and Lewis, Fred and Felipe, Michael, Seb, Rob, too many great teams, it will be a killer, at least I hope so. Unlike many, I liked the Bahrain GP, but this was the real deal, loved it. More of it, please...
Formula One FOREVER!

[PilotJargon]

I'd say no simply because neither Button nor Hamilton are a match for Prost and Senna. I get your point though.

There's no way Hamilton would have done 52 laps on a set of tyres. He eats the things for breakfast which actually makes his speed at times all the more surprising because his driving leaves him with a much narrower window in terms of peak tyre performance.

Turkey is going to a real test for Hamilton as he couldn't make tyres last there with multiple tyre changes. How's he going to make a one-stopper work?

[soonahonsefalh]

Too early to call on that but seems unlikely that it will follow a similar pattern as those two greats.

[standaman]

No, while Lewis alike to Senna, Button is not even close to what Prost was.
Let's not forget how Button was nowhere at the start and how he only won because Vettel's car broke down again.

[hellencomstar]

Let's not forget how Button was nowhere at the start and how he only won because Vettel's car broke down again.

Constructors have to balance speed and reliability. Red Bull have built a quick car, marginal on reliability. McLaren have built a car that can get to the finish, therefore there's nothing undeserved about this win.

I think Dave's Prost & Senna analogy is very wise, though I'd agree that neither are at the levels those two reached in their pomp.

[dexterljohnthefinanceguy]

ioan, it seems that when Jenson wins from pole, it's the car, when he wins not from pole, it's luck. This is, forgive me, not serious. It is clear that the guy is very talented, he is a WDC, maybe not as Prost, but then again, few drivers in history are on that level. I personally don't find Lewis to be as great as Senna either. But both him and Jenson are very good drivers and the battle between them looks promising.

[igs00r]

I don’t agree with you Ioan, Button drove a very very impressive race.
Especially as he was running consistent 1:29's right at the end of the race.
Today he drove like a champion, and proved a point to a lot of people.

I would like to see what the Renaults and Ferrari's were running lap time wise towards the end, buttons smooth driving style just kept anyone from getting close today. I’m certainly not sure if Vettel's Red bull could have looked after the tyres the way Jenson did.

[Soadiassy]

I think two discussions in and after the race said a lot for me.

Hamilton moaning over the radio "why did we go with this strategy? [pitting a second time]" - he seemed genuinely shocked when the team told him that the Ferraris and Kubica weren't going to be pitting.

Button on the other hand, early in the race had taken the bull by the horns and made his own pitstop call and that paid dividends, while Hamilton seemed to be reliant on the team.

I think all things being equal Hamilton is faster (just) and if I was a betting man I'd say Hamilton will probably end the season with more points (again, not necessarily by much), but there will be a few days I think where Button has his measure when things require a bit more intelligence and smooth driving.

Either way I think it's good for Button he's got an early marker in, had he had his backside handed to him by Hamilton repeatedly as he settled into the team it would have been hard I think to establish himself on an equal footing, for the first time since the first few races of 2007 it seems like McLaren have two genuine equal number ones.

[Peter Hill]

No, while Lewis alike to Senna, Button is not even close to what Prost was.
Let's not forget how Button was nowhere at the start and how he only won because Vettel's car broke down again.

He would have most likely beaten Vettel anyway, judging by Webber having to stop again, and that vettel wears his tyres typically more than Mark does.

Vettel was really unlucky, and I think the guy's great, but I don't think he would have won the race today.

[Seerseraxlils]

No, while Lewis alike to Senna, Button is not even close to what Prost was.
Let's not forget how Button was nowhere at the start and how he only won because Vettel's car broke down again.

[stuck_in_WA]

Lewis may be more worried about internal politics.
In the past, he had the Spaniard and then the Finn as team mates.
They were not English, but foreigners inside lewis's "native" team

And RD the godfather is no longer around to protect him....run off in part by Lewis himself...

and worse of all, he now has an English team mate who is as Brit as Lewis the Brit himself....and everyone says Button is the lesser driver, so Button has nothing to lose and everything to win by merely winning a few races.

I was always think it is better to be the hunter than the hunted....Lewis probably does not drive as fast when looking over his shoulder.

add in the outburst for all the world to hear about his team over the radio, and then after the race quotes of ""To sum up the race I think I probably had one of the drives of my life and unfortunately, due to the strategy, I was put further back....."

and then asked whose decision the second stop had been, Hamilton replies, "I don't know, we'll find out....."

What an ego.....wonder if it were WM himself? Guess lewis will just have to whip his butt into shape....

Hummm....do some remember Davey Ryan flying under the bus and how the team "mislead" poor Lewis into lying just last year....

Difference is that this year, there is an Englishman as a team mate, who has demonstrated an ability to win a WDC when given the right car, who has not dumped on his Mac team last year, and not this year,

Add in 2010 results to date: the current total is one win to none....Hummmm

[zCLadw3R]

OT, but does anyone know how many passes Button made after everyone went to slicks?

[Seerseraxlils]

it seems like McLaren have two genuine equal number ones.

Indeed they do.

Mclaren is now managed by Witmarsh and his temperament is very close to that of Jenson's.

It was easy for Hamilton when his mentor Dennis was present because Ron never had any qualms about openly favoring his pet driver and Kovaleinnen was never any threat.

For the first time Lewis has a teammate that is naturally calm and controlled and has complete confidence in his ability. If he has a weakness it is that he UNDERDOES it - as he did in Bahrain. But at the same time it provided a lot of information to Jense. Indeed he said the car was very comfortable today and they can make it better.

He lost time on the inters because the car was not handling well - but Jenson is also a very senstive driver.

Taking on slicks in what was extremely greasy conditions is only possible by a driver of the highest caliber.

This is not going to be a Senna-Prost situation because Jenson is not a vindictive individual and has high self-esteem and, Whitmarsh would not allow such a situation to arise.

Prost [off track] was just as bad as Senna [on track] - he would do small things during testing for example that would annoy Senna immensely - and he knew it would because Senna would react negatively. Dennis did nothing to prevent that and ultimately he turned the team against Prost openly.

In the end they became close friends and Prost was the last person the great Brazilian spoke to on that awful May day.

[mylittlejewelaa]

I don’t agree with you Ioan, Button drove a very very impressive race.
Especially as he was running consistent 1:29's right at the end of the race.
Today he drove like a champion, and proved a point to a lot of people.

Agree. After GP of Bahrain there was a lot of critic on Button, but judging by one race is really too early. It will be an interesting competition between Hamilton and Button, although I think Hamilton will end season with more points.

[Seerseraxlils]

OT, but does anyone know how many passes Button made after everyone went to slicks?

I know he passed four people after his stop and I THINK went to second place - but if you mean literally overtaking on track, I cant remember that.

One would have to review [which I intend to do - I always watch a grand prix around three times] or read the lap chart - the race because there were also a fair amount of backmarkers he had to overtake on his way to victory.

[mr.calisto]

It certainly will be like Prost vs Senna because they didn't get on either. My guess is that Hamilton will try to make things as awkward as possible for Button after today (even more so!) He's too childish and immature to do anything else.