Is Hamilton desperate or what?

[myurr]

Further to this, Button was given Hamilton's engineer this season so they both started the season with 'new' engineers. Sure, Hamilton will have known his guy but not to work with and that is important.

I think it actually goes beyond that and that the team and Hamilton especially have learned a lot from Buttons outlook and calm approach to things. Lewis seems much more relaxed and self assured this season, especially after the first few races, and I honestly believe that seeing the way Button carries himself and the quiet inner confidence he displays has helped Lewis calm down and relax. All in all I think it's a brilliant driver pairing, easily the best in the pit lane, and that both Lewis and Button will emerge from this season as stronger and more complete drivers.

That said had Button continued to pick up more points than Lewis then things probably wouldn't have been so smooth, it's definitely a partnership that is working as well as it is because Lewis is winning. Button appears to deal better with being a very close second. Which in and of itself is no mean feat when Lewis is, arguably, the best driver on the grid this season.

[myurr]

why would you leave your race engineer to your teammate ????...speaks of him looking for more elsewere or them having found issues they could not overcome ...the relationship between driver and engineer but also crew is a very delicate and important thing and surely worth a lot in lap time and results .
If the driver is perceiving his troops not making good or questionable decisions it will show in results.
It is because of this that change is very often boosting performance in teams. you know nothing about the others shortcomings and start with trust ....the --- starts when questions or questionable decisions or failures put the new relationship to the test .Only then the true picture evolves and the relationship is taking of to a new level or degrades to the point of splitting..

Actually I should have picked up on that on my previous post. I believe Hamilton's engineer was actually promoted to oversee both garages, and that two new engineers were brought forward to run each individual garage.

This was engineered by Whitmarsh so that both drivers would be able to feel equally at home in the team and to show Button that they were to be treated equally. Quite a clever move really.

[Just_a_fan]

I think you're right about them as a driver pairing. They do complement each other well and this helps them both and the team to perform.

I think that Button would soon make it clear if he thought the team were in any way disadvantaging him. Indeed, I think the whole issue with the EBD being removed was partly to do with the difference of opinion of the drivers. Had they both been up for driving with it I bet the team would have cobbled it together to last the race distance. Because it was marginal anyway and one driver was definitely against it then the team quite rightly removed it from the car. I think last year they'd have run it on Hamilton's car if he'd wanted it irrespective of Heikki's view on the thing.

[marcush.]

a good move by Mclaren ..and helping to promote positive interaction betwen the two groups .I don´t believe in intern rivalery in a team ...it is not manageable.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

@JET

At this level, I would not expect the "unfamiliarity phase" to last very long at all.

Certainly, he has problems finding a set up that he likes but that is really down to him and his adaptability. Indeed, we saw this last year - the car changed as the year went on and he went from winning several races on the bounce to struggling to finish in the points. None of that can be down to a lack of familiarity and all down to a lack of adaptability.

The fact is that with the same kit, Hamilton has outqualified Button quite impressively. It's a testament to Button that he has kept his points tally so high so far albeit Hamilton would be further ahead but for a component failure in Spain. (I accept Button lucked out in Monaco but he was unlikely to have finished ahead of Hamilton anyway (barring incident affecting Hamilton) - the only relevant person who did markedly better than their grid slot was Alonso and that was down to his unusual starting position.)

Don't get me wrong, Button has risen massively in my estimation (like he cares ) but whilst he is much closer to Hamilton than I thought he would be, I still think Hamilton pips him overall. That may change further, of course, as the season progresses.

Qualifying is only 1 side of the picture, racecraft quite another.
Senna decimated Prost in qualifying, yet Prost got alot closer to him in race conditions.
The same way subtle differnces to driving styles have positive and negative characteristics, I belive that while button cant extract the ultimate lap, he sure can extract alot over a race. Consistency.

If this was all about ultimate pace, yes Hamilton easily beats Button. Buts its not, thats just one aspect.
Raikkonen and Hamilton would be an almighty scrap in terms of pure outright pace, but both would cede to Mika Hakkinen, and then Senna IMO

Its bubbling over nicley at McLaren, and the Button/Hamilton combo is working beautifully. Red Bull would do well to take note, this is how to operate!

[Poleman]

About Hamilton's consistency:

If managing to stick with (and even beat) a faster RedBull over a race distance the last races so far trading faster laps with them,can't be called consistency,then what is it?

Being consistent by lapping 0.5s+ than your teammate in the race doesnt tell too much if u ask me.Not taking away any credit from JB but he still lacks LH performance.

[Richard]

Hamilton has had a history of silly mistakes, ,for example crashing out of 2nd place at Monza last year with a handful of laps left, clear track ahead, clear behind.

Button is one of those guys who manages to be consistent so he can take advantage of opportunities when they arise. He also seems to very easily find gaps on opening laps, and to then consolidate his position with pit and rain strategies. Rememebr how many times he passed his teammate at Brawn based on using the right pace at the right time to make the strategy work?

If anyone thinks that finding gaps to pass slow cars is easy, then remember how many top level drivers have been taken off track recently. Massa & Vettel at Silverstone. Vettel at Turkey, Alonso & Webber at Valencia. Massa at Montreal. Strangely we haven't seen Button have those mishaps in recent years. He's a safe pair of hands.

[marcush.]

I think the beauty of buttons talents is a bit more hidden than the obvious shine of Mr.Hamilton ...
no ways i can accept that Button has not won all those points just becuse he is a lucky boy.He has shown he has outstanding quality and I´m pretty sure Lewis has already realised that he cannot afford to drop the ball having him as a teammate.So compared to Alonso Button will not argue about who might be the ultimate quick but who is the efficient scorer,for him a beautyful situation to iron out his only weakness ...making silly mistakes .

[ringo]

This Hamilton being more relaxed becuase of Button is a false observation.
People are forgetting one thing:

Hamilton says this is the best car he has ever driven..

That is worth more than any percieved imitation of Jenson Button. Once you get a car that is good, then you are going to be relaxed becuase you don't have to be on the limit all the time.
The same thing goes for Adrian Sutil. Why is it that he is so relaxed this year, and seems so mature? Reason is that he has a better car under him.

The only thing Button taught hamilton, was how to keep an eye on everyone around you. Hami learned this after the turkey race. Now you see hamilton calling for lap gaps to the car behind and ahead, instead off calling for gap ahead alone.
He also seems more inquisitive.
This is not just down to Jenson Button, this is simply down to gaining experience in formula1.

People are behaving like all the guy can do is drive fast. And Button has all the other skills. Not so, in fact i think Hamilton hasn't changed much since midway 2009. All that's happened is the car is better and the regulations require a different approach and being the adaptable driver that he is, you will see a different driver, but it's the same guy.
If things go bad for him in qualy, you will see him go tazmania again and cut down the field. Right now he is just cruising by himself, redbulls too far ahead and teammate to far behind.

[ringo]

Hamilton has had a history of silly mistakes, ,for example crashing out of 2nd place at Monza last year with a handful of laps left, clear track ahead, clear behind.

Button is one of those guys who manages to be consistent so he can take advantage of opportunities when they arise. He also seems to very easily find gaps on opening laps, and to then consolidate his position with pit and rain strategies. Rememebr how many times he passed his teammate at Brawn based on using the right pace at the right time to make the strategy work?

If anyone thinks that finding gaps to pass slow cars is easy, then remember how many top level drivers have been taken off track recently. Massa & Vettel at Silverstone. Vettel at Turkey, Alonso & Webber at Valencia. Massa at Montreal. Strangely we haven't seen Button have those mishaps in recent years. He's a safe pair of hands.

You are making him look like a da vinci. Mclren pit wall, deserves most of that credit. And remember brawn was favouring Button before Barichello started to complain.
Hamilton's off in Monza was just bad luck, the tyre went on a piece of astro turf.
Not only that, the car was still crap dynamically, and things happen when you push a car like that. Button has never pushed like that in his life. So he will seem more consistent, but i don't think statistically, he is more consistent than Hamilton.

To switch topics. I don't think Button will come closer to Hamilton; on the contrary, Hamilton is pulling away both in qualifying and points. Button is in the industry for 10 years, he is at his peak and has learned a lot. To say he will improve at the same rate as a 4rth year driver is unrealistic.
What i think he will do is strengthen what he is good at, not his pace. Button simply can't train himself to be faster, you can't bend and old tree.
What he will do is continue to use his experience to his advantage, such as in pitstops and when to push at what laps in the race.

What interests me most though, is what will happen when the Mclaren is as fast as redbull and button is running at the front. Remember he's never chased/been chased by a redbull or ferrari in the middle stage of a race.
His cheeky pitstops wont work so well, because all eyes will be on him. Redbull or Ferrari will copy his strategy and stick to him. How will he cope in a situation like this?
Alonso on your tail and Webber up the road, tyre saving or sitting back not an option.

[ISLAMATRON]

About Hamilton's consistency:

If managing to stick with (and even beat) a faster RedBull over a race distance the last races so far trading faster laps with them,can't be called consistency,then what is it?

Being consistent by lapping 0.5s+ than your teammate in the race doesnt tell too much if u ask me.Not taking away any credit from JB but he still lacks LH performance.

Button is very consistent... consistantly slow, consistently behind LH and consistantly stuck behind slower drivers that he has no idea how to pass.

Please anyone explain to me how Button is doing a good job when he was stuck behind Kobay(again) for so long that LH could serve a drive thru in front of JB and still come out ahead of him.

Now some of you are claiming that Hamilton is better this year because of Button's input to the team, totally absurd, Is is clear than HAmilton was better than Button from even before his first race in McLaren and has absolutely nothing to learn fom him, if he did learn anything from JB he would be taking steps backward as a racing driver.

There is no point in this entire season where JB has been the better driver... better weatherman? maybe, but even then in Austrailia he put on the slicks and promptly put it in the kitty litter and was lucky to get out.

[ISLAMATRON]

So what your saying then is that going from 14th on the grid, to 4th and stuck behind a car with the same engine, is merely "doing the minimum"?


I suppose Hamiltons 4th to 2nd, not having to overtake anyone is the greatest feat of human skill witnessed at silverstone!

Fact is Hamilton is only 12 points ahead of Button. No one though that would happen, and I think it rancours with some Hamilton fans that Button can live with him.

Yes, JB did the minimum he should do at silverstone, and passing Rosberg would have actually been doing something... Rosberg's car was falling apart if you didnt notice, JA drove into the side of him while Rosberg was passing, parts were flying off his car on the straights... but JB still couldnt pull up his skirt to mount an attack.

Suppose what ever you want to, Hamilton had a good race finishing ahead of a faster RedBull and Ferrari.

Fact is I could not care less what the points are, like I said points counting is for lazy idiots.

[vall]

So what your saying then is that going from 14th on the grid, to 4th and stuck behind a car with the same engine, is merely "doing the minimum"?


I suppose Hamiltons 4th to 2nd, not having to overtake anyone is the greatest feat of human skill witnessed at silverstone!

Fact is Hamilton is only 12 points ahead of Button. No one though that would happen, and I think it rancours with some Hamilton fans that Button can live with him.

Yes, JB did the minimum he should do at silverstone, and passing Rosberg would have actually been doing something... Rosberg's car was falling apart if you didnt notice, JA drove into the side of him while Rosberg was passing, parts were flying off his car on the straights... but JB still couldnt pull up his skirt to mount an attack.

Suppose what ever you want to, Hamilton had a good race finishing ahead of a faster RedBull and Ferrari.

Fact is I could not care less what the points are, like I said points counting is for lazy idiots.

right, and 2008 clearly showed that I don't read the standings; the champ for me is clearly Massa....

[ISLAMATRON]

right, and 2008 clearly showed that I don't read the standings; the champ for me is clearly Massa....

And you are entitled to see it like that if you wish, for me I saw LH pass the finsih line 1st in 6 races to Massa's 5(2008), LH clearly the champion.

[vall]

right, and 2008 clearly showed that I don't read the standings; the champ for me is clearly Massa....

And you are entitled to see it like that if you wish, for me I saw LH pass the finsih line 1st in 6 races to Massa's 5(2008), LH clearly the champion.

so, you like MrM medal system then?