Button's socks

[Glen]

Johnny Herbert on Button (following Button's slagging-off of Eddie):

"After an excellent first year he fell away badly and was regularly out-qualified by Giancarlo Fisichella, his teammate, last season. Jenson is one young man who really needs to pull his socks up if he is to have a future in the sport. He had a poor run last year and will have to do better this year."

Having a look at the testing times, seems he is taking things a bit more seriously this year. Great stuff - he's got one last chance in my books (and in Renault's too, I'd have thought).

I'm surprised Trulli isn't closer to him - but on the other hand his race-weight/set-up times were always dissappointing in 2001, compared to his rather excellent qualifying performances.

Possibly Button's poor 2001 season was made to look worse by Fisichella, who is giving Sato a hard time at the moment.

[BD]

I think the reason Button looks so inconsistent is because of the drivers he's driven with. In my opinion, Fisichella is the most underrated driver in F1, and R. Schumacher is the most overrated. Button is good, but not as good as Fisichella, therefore less performance. I'd pick Button over R. Schumacher in terms of speed. This explains why Button was able to out-perform R. Schumacher towards the end of the 2000 season.
Also, testing times right now dont mean much.

[Mr V]

i think jenson will do better this season.he went to benny thinking he could give fisi a fright like he did to rafe (sorry rg!!!) but after out qualifying fisi 1st time out, fisi pulls his socks up and gives it jens with both barrels, this season jens won't think it's as easy and hence, pull his socks up!!!

[GasMan]

I wish all the best luck in the world to Button. The kid really made an impression on me in his first season at Williams and to a certain extent some of his Bennetton performances were reasonable given the car he was in. Considering the driver he was paired with he did have a tough time. Imagine going from the speed and stability of the Williams to the relatively slow and chunky Bennetton. I sincerely hope he can put his foot down and take his 2000 and 2001 seasons as experience and hit a middle ground at least.

[senna12]

All of this comparison of teammates has just gone to show how good and under-rated Fisi is, as his performance at Spa last year emphasized. Eddie has already had to defend Taku's early season performances compared to Giancarlo's.

I think the jury is out a bit on Jarno so far. He qualifies well, but races inconsistently. This is now a make or break year for Jenson, David, Ralf, Rubens, JV, and Eddie, at the very least. There could be a major changing of the guard over the next couple of seasons. I wonder if Mika will find it easy to get back in? He's no spring chicken anymore.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by senna12

This is now a make or break year for Jenson

not going too bad so far! 4th place in the wdc....go jenson!

[Dr. Austin]

Look back to Brazil and the fantastic clean dice he had with Montoya. And yesterday he defended his position, but never once resorted to a cheap block or swerve. He was passed by severl people and they had to work for it, but Jenson never treated them dirty or stepped out of bounds.

That is enough reason for me to admire him. A formula one driver's career (as well as life) is on the line every other weekend. That Jenson will not do something stupidly desperate when his career (in particular) is at such a critical crossroads shows me something I don't much of in some of in the established 'sportsmen."

Honor.

[BBKing]

Just think of Briatore's face everytime he goes to meat the top people at Renault. His "Trulli is as good as Fisichella" must not leave a place for embarrasment in his face.

[Sato san]

Jense has raced very fair and has gave us all much excitement !..he has my vote .

[Spudgun]

Last year Button could not get on with how the car handled. The Benetton team effectively told him to change his driving style to suit the car. It should work the other way round!

Anyhow, Jenson has had some input on this year's car and now he's doing well.. Go on my son!

[Inigo Montoya]

I know I'll be attacked to death for this, but I think Frank missed the boat when he signed JPM and let Button go. We'll see how this pans out, but I am thinking in the long term, Jenson will have the better career. As for Giancarlo, he is another tragic victim of the evil Flavio Briatore.

[Daytona Donald]

Originally posted by Inigo Montoya
but I am thinking in the long term, Jenson will have the better career.

please explain why........jenson deserves to be in the williams, but not at jpm's expence, move over ralf!

when jenson was signed he knew that it would only be for a year as montoya was coming aboard, and montoya has made f1 exiting again, he is the only driver out there to take the fight to tgf, he maybe behind ralf (by a whole 2 points) at the moment but it will all turn around by the seasons end........mark my words!

[Inigo Montoya]

For one, Juan is 5 years older than Jenson. Secondly, I still consider JPM, though obviously talented, too much of a hot head. Brazil proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt for me. Especially with his recent "I'm gonna get even with Michael" comments.

Jenson didn't panic when things got tough last year, and has come through (so far) with flying colours. As for Ralf, I think he is WDC material, better than both JPM and Jenson.
Like I said, we'll see how it all pans out.

[LindaC]

Notice that Fisichella isn't having any more success, speed or luck with Jordan than Trulli did.

I'm pretty sure that Trulli will have a more succcesful season with Renault than Fisi with Jordan.

[mariov]

Originally posted by senna12
I think the jury is out a bit on Jarno so far. He qualifies well, but races inconsistently. This is now a make or break year for Jenson, David, Ralf, Rubens, JV, and Eddie, at the very least.

I think Jenson will have a very good season, it might just be the opposite of the previous season...this might be the make or break year for Jarno.

Too bad Flavio did not keep Fisichella, I've always considered him very highly, and I think it was a mistake to replace him with Trulli.

Button has found the hunger he had in the first year, and the new Renault seems to suit his still more.

[calais]

Originally posted by Inigo Montoya
I know I'll be attacked to death for this, but I think Frank missed the boat when he signed JPM and let Button go. We'll see how this pans out, but I am thinking in the long term, Jenson will have the better career. As for Giancarlo, he is another tragic victim of the evil Flavio Briatore.

no, frank should've let halfie go instead, then he wouldve had two proper racers in his team

[RussianFriend]

Jenson started with one of the best cars not having other experience. Then he tried one of the worst on the grid. Very good lessons! If he stayed in Williams he would never get over star disease. Now he know the worth of every effort and every second. I believe in future in F1.

[Glen]

Credit to him - that's one hell of a lot of hard work he's putting in. Fourteen more races at the same standard and he will have more than made up for the "iffy" start to 2001. To keep Montoya behind him like that was as much work as winning the race with the right car (bearing in mind that Montoya was in race-winning car).

[EERO]

Originally posted by RussianFriend
Jenson started with one of the best cars not having other experience. Then he tried one of the worst on the grid. Very good lessons! If he stayed in Williams he would never get over star disease. Now he know the worth of every effort and every second.

I think you are absolutely correct. Last year humbled him and I am sure it tried his patience.
Running in the top six from the start has to be a joyous change. I would say that there is hope for the boy yet.

[Nicholas]

See how the season develops, Rubinho and the Mclarens haven't scored much, and will Sir Frank lose patience with JPM? Probably not, but it'll be an excuse for Jens to return. On the other hand, would you want to get rid of Montoya?

[BMW Power]

I like Jenson.Poor fellow had to go through a miserable time last year but he has done what a good driver has to do and that is to fight on the cicuit.It was great to see him hold off Juan pablo Montoya in Brazil.Maybe Williams will sign Button to drive alongside Ralf Schumacher next year.It would be nice to have a German/British driver combination in a German/British team.