Jump to content


Photo

Why is Button so highly rated?


  • Please log in to reply
255 replies to this topic

#1 sheepgobba

sheepgobba
  • Member

  • 1,124 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:12

Lately after JB's win in Brazil I have seen on few sites and personal colleagues suggesting Button could win the 2013 championship. Personally I don't see that happening, unless Mclaren build a rocketship like the Brawn of 2009. However, despite that the car this season was the best/fastest car but reliability issues hampered it down. Moreover, Button stated 2012 was the worst year yet the Mclaren was the fastest Mclaren in the last 3 years he has had. This doesn't boost well for next season right? In a car that was one of the best on majority of the races, Button was outraced and outqualified by Hamilton, and even lapped at the Canadian Grand Prix. For these reasons I personally don't see Button winning the 2013 championship. Sure he's a good driver but he isn't as consistent and unlike drivers like Alonso cannot adapt to changing circumstances requiring a car to his liking and balance. Leading to the famous 'grip' tag.

For these reasons I personally do not see why Button is highly rated.

Edited by sheepgobba, 27 November 2012 - 15:13.


Advertisement

#2 Nahnever

Nahnever
  • Member

  • 260 posts
  • Joined: May 12

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:22

How many drivers do you know in F1 who personally takes the media/journalists out to a special dinner at least once a year? Let alone the others he often invites round for dinner. :lol:

Edited by Nahnever, 27 November 2012 - 15:23.


#3 w00dy

w00dy
  • Member

  • 1,306 posts
  • Joined: April 04

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:39

He has won more than zero WDCs
He is at a top team
He is British

#4 Peat

Peat
  • Member

  • 8,837 posts
  • Joined: November 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:43

He has won 15 World Championship Grand Prix races......... Several of which in tricky conditions where the even more highly rated competition has cracked.

That's no mean feat.

Edited by Peat, 27 November 2012 - 15:53.


#5 Sardukar

Sardukar
  • Member

  • 692 posts
  • Joined: July 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:49

Just because this years car didn't suit him doesn't mean he is bad, Button is very good when he likes the car.

#6 Alfisti

Alfisti
  • Member

  • 39,692 posts
  • Joined: December 99

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:50

he is an outstanding race car driver when he feels ok in the car. his awareness of other cars, decision making and general racing is top drawer. he also seems a very likable bloke unlike many of his contemporaries. In saying that, i'd strap Hamilton into my F1 car over Buttion every time if I were a team owner, no brainer imho.

#7 Fastcake

Fastcake
  • Member

  • 12,548 posts
  • Joined: April 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:50

Because he's a great driver. /thread

(I hate that normally but this time I judge it apt)

Edited by Fastcake, 27 November 2012 - 15:50.


#8 Buttoneer

Buttoneer
  • Admin

  • 19,094 posts
  • Joined: May 04

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:54

How many drivers do you know in F1 who personally takes the media/journalists out to a special dinner at least once a year? Let alone the others he often invites round for dinner. :lol:

This is it, although the other mods get different drivers, and a different set of journalists. Gareth says Lobato is good fun really.

#9 Disgrace

Disgrace
  • Member

  • 31,249 posts
  • Joined: January 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 15:54

He is particularly sensitive to the balance of his car.

When it works against him, he can be absolutely nowhere like all of 2001 when he was dominated by Fisichella, all of 2008 when he was simply anonymous and a quarter of this season when he was chasing a setup dead-end and took himself out of title contention.

With his fabled perfect balance, he has proven he can be the best in the field like the first half of his Brawn season. His finest hour, Monaco '09, came as he was the only one who could make the tyres work on the day.

It gives him an advantage in making the right judgement calls in changeable conditions such as Australia '10 and Brazil '12. In both races, Hamilton put faith in the team and both times it was wrong. Button relied on his feel and it gave him two wins.

With Button, it really works both ways.

#10 Anderis

Anderis
  • Member

  • 7,345 posts
  • Joined: December 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:15

F1 is about scoring points.

Button has scored more points than Hamilton since they are team-mates.

You can outscore better driver by luck in one season, but if you does it over 3 seasons, it can't be just coincidence. It doesn't mean that Buttton is better driver than Hamilton, but he must be very close if he managed to do it.

That's why he is highly rated.

#11 OoxLox

OoxLox
  • Member

  • 436 posts
  • Joined: May 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:15

British drivers are always over-rated by the British press at some point in their careers, and always overly-trashed by the same press at other times. Button deserves high praise for his performances at times, and rightly gets it. He got slapped around for being a playboy in his early years and messing around with his contracts, earned some kudos in 2004-2006, then slipped into relative obscurity in 2007-2008 helped by being given a wheelbarrow to drive by Honda. The press therefore had low expectations for him which he blew away in 2009, and he's since then been a lot closer to Lewis than most expected, so that pretty much explains it to me. The fact that he's very chummy with many leading journos and pundits can't be held against him as that's all part of the F1 game.

For me he's an excellent driver, but just not quite on that level that makes me go "phwoar!" except for a couple of occasions like Monaco qually in 2009 and Canada 2011. YMMV.

#12 wepmob2000

wepmob2000
  • Member

  • 709 posts
  • Joined: October 08

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:16


Arguably he's the cleverest racer on the grid, and certainly the best when weather conditions are mixed or not optimal. When he has a car under him that he's happy with, he's as good as anyone on the grid, and can be relied upon to look after the car and bring it home after driving an invariably clean race.

However his adaptability to the weather is not matched by his adaptability to the car, this is his downfall. If McLaren design a car to suit him next year, I see no reason why he couldn't be WDC, the chances are good since I see him and Perez as quite similar in terms of driving style, so hopefully McLaren will follow a direction that suits Button.

He and Hamilton were complete opposites in terms of style, so designing a car that suited both of them was probably quite tricky, and Button would be more affected by this......



#13 bub

bub
  • Member

  • 2,722 posts
  • Joined: July 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:21

I don't think he is so highly rated. Most people rate him about 4th/5th out of current drivers, which is about right. If people are expecting him to win the championship next year it's either wishful thinking or they haven't been paying attention to Vettel/Red Bull lately.

Edited by bub, 27 November 2012 - 16:23.


#14 BackmarkerUK

BackmarkerUK
  • Member

  • 348 posts
  • Joined: March 12

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:23

Just because this years car didn't suit him doesn't mean he is bad, Button is very good when he likes the car.


And even in a car that didn't suit him, he contributed 49.7% of McLaren's points this season. Next season McLaren will have had to have built the car around him, more or less, and with being able to manage your tyres important currently, Button could end up challenging for the title. I definitely expect him to blow away the overrated Pérez (though I am prepared to eat those words!)

#15 SpartanChas

SpartanChas
  • Member

  • 910 posts
  • Joined: February 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:26

When he's said this years McLaren was the worst, I believe he meant it was harder to set up and get into the sweet spot with tyres. Not that it was slow or anything.

Edited by SpartanChas, 27 November 2012 - 16:26.


#16 Trust

Trust
  • Member

  • 5,153 posts
  • Joined: November 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:28

Who rates Button highly?

#17 bourbon

bourbon
  • Member

  • 7,265 posts
  • Joined: February 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:30

Button is a top driver and very good, very judicious, and brings his experience to bear, maximizing his skills. It is fashionable to try and denegrate his performance and ability, but the reality is, he is a top driver. End Of.

#18 ForeverF1

ForeverF1
  • RC Forum Host

  • 6,580 posts
  • Joined: February 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:30

Who rates Button highly?

Read the OP.

#19 sofarapartguy

sofarapartguy
  • Member

  • 1,267 posts
  • Joined: December 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:32

I don't think he is so highly rated. Most people rate him about 4th/5th out of current drivers, which is about right. If people are expecting him to win the championship next year it's either wishful thinking or they haven't been paying attention to Vettel/Red Bull lately.

Who?

Advertisement

#20 Trust

Trust
  • Member

  • 5,153 posts
  • Joined: November 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:32

Button being favourite for the championship next year is much more due to car being this dominant and Lewis making the way for him by going out of McLaren than Button being so good and highly rated. There is no problem with those "sites and your friends" talking that way.

#21 Alfisti

Alfisti
  • Member

  • 39,692 posts
  • Joined: December 99

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:33

And even in a car that didn't suit him, he contributed 49.7% of McLaren's points this season.


I like Button a lot but COME ON! Hamilton had the car fall apart so many times or the team drop the ball when in a strong position, he would have blitz jenson all things being equal.


#22 bub

bub
  • Member

  • 2,722 posts
  • Joined: July 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:35

When he's said this years McLaren was the worst, I believe he meant it was harder to set up and get into the sweet spot with tyres. Not that it was slow or anything.


So what he meant was this year's tyres were the worst.

#23 bub

bub
  • Member

  • 2,722 posts
  • Joined: July 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:36

Who?


Most people.

#24 sofarapartguy

sofarapartguy
  • Member

  • 1,267 posts
  • Joined: December 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:38

Most people.

Where?

#25 bub

bub
  • Member

  • 2,722 posts
  • Joined: July 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:41

Where?


Earth mainly.

#26 maverick69

maverick69
  • Member

  • 5,975 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:43

Earth mainly.


:lol:

Ties in perfectly with your avatar!

Edited by maverick69, 27 November 2012 - 16:44.


#27 SCUDmissile

SCUDmissile
  • Member

  • 8,762 posts
  • Joined: May 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 16:58

I don't rate button that highly as some do.

But I do have to say his skill on keeping the car on the track in borderline slick/inter conditions is amazing, and has won him many races. He does this better than most, apart from maybe Hulk.

Edited by SCUDmissile, 27 November 2012 - 16:58.


#28 topical

topical
  • Member

  • 2,815 posts
  • Joined: September 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:01

No one rates Button in the top 3 drivers in F1, so he's not that highly rated. But just like 90% of drivers, he can win the title if the car is good enough. McLaren sometimes produce great cars and he's got a teammate next year who looks mediocre at best. For these reasons alone he's more likely to win the title than, say, Lewis, despite the latter being the far superior driver.

#29 jimjimjeroo

jimjimjeroo
  • Member

  • 2,728 posts
  • Joined: December 08

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:15

Because he's good at what he does, and a few people who's opinion matters thinks so to!

The end

#30 H2H

H2H
  • Member

  • 2,891 posts
  • Joined: June 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:24


Even if you think, like I do, that Lewis is the faster driver you have to acknowledge that Jenson performed at the end of the day point-wise practically the same. If you factor in things like luck Lewis should have arguably score more but even in this case they would not have been all to much apart. So if people rate Lewis highly they should rate Jenson not too dissimilarly.




#31 gm914

gm914
  • Member

  • 6,046 posts
  • Joined: September 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:31

3 year McLaren points totals:

Button- 672
Hamilton- 657

If Button is a schlub, what does that make Hamilton?

#32 Skinnyguy

Skinnyguy
  • Member

  • 4,391 posts
  • Joined: August 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:35

Because he´s pretty good. He´s done enough good seasons to be rated highly: 2004, late 2006, 2009, 2011... the gris isn´t full of people having done 3 and a half top level yars, so he gets credit for it.

#33 HPT

HPT
  • Member

  • 2,086 posts
  • Joined: April 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:55

It gives him an advantage in making the right judgement calls in changeable conditions such as Australia '10 and Brazil '12. In both races, Hamilton put faith in the team and both times it was wrong. Button relied on his feel and it gave him two wins.

With Button, it really works both ways.


At he makes the right calls but that wasn't wasn't a judgment call. His inters were completely shot. He had no other choice but to pit for tires. He got lucky.

#34 HPT

HPT
  • Member

  • 2,086 posts
  • Joined: April 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:57

Earth mainly.


:lol:

#35 g1n

g1n
  • Member

  • 894 posts
  • Joined: February 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 17:58

...because he is a solid number 2 driver and has a championship, this makes him the best number 2 driver on the grid. You do not have to be in Hamilton, Alsonso, Kimi group to be considered good.

#36 Ferrari_F1_fan_2001

Ferrari_F1_fan_2001
  • Member

  • 3,420 posts
  • Joined: May 01

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:00

The Lewis pressure will be off him.

He is a tyre whisperer (see middle of season :lol:)

Perez is more inconsistent than him.

If the car is right...he flies....big if though.

#37 tabovilla

tabovilla
  • Member

  • 72 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:08

I know why I rate him highly :clap:
Posted Image

#38 discover23

discover23
  • Member

  • 9,302 posts
  • Joined: September 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:10

F1 is about scoring points.

Button has scored more points than Hamilton since they are team-mates.

You can outscore better driver by luck in one season, but if you does it over 3 seasons, it can't be just coincidence. It doesn't mean that Buttton is better driver than Hamilton, but he must be very close if he managed to do it.

That's why he is highly rated.

Total nonesense.. Lewis would have anihilated Button in total points scored had it not been for all of his car failures this season.. Button is above average..

#39 WitnessX

WitnessX
  • Member

  • 1,646 posts
  • Joined: June 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:10

At he makes the right calls but that wasn't wasn't a judgment call. His inters were completely shot. He had no other choice but to pit for tires. He got lucky.

Really?

http://news.bbc.co.u...one/8591390.stm

"It was my call, it is a lot easier for the driver to feel the conditions," said Button on the timing of his first stop.

"When I entered the pit-lane I thought I had made a catastrophic decision because it was soaking wet in the pit-lane, but once I got it going and up to speed the pace was pretty good."

Advertisement

#40 Der Pate

Der Pate
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:12

Total nonesense.. Lewis would have anihilated Button in total points scored had it not been for all of his car failures this season.. Button is above average..


So the world-championship is nonsense as well?

#41 discover23

discover23
  • Member

  • 9,302 posts
  • Joined: September 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:14

So the world-championship is nonsense as well?

it does not define the best driver.. It defines the best driver/team package.

#42 Der Pate

Der Pate
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:16

it does not define the best driver.. It defines the best driver/team package.


The championship works for the F1 since 1950...but now we have Hamilton, and suddenly the championship doesn´t define the best driver of the year...

What´s next?...Massa was THE MAN in 2008 and not Hamilton?

#43 discover23

discover23
  • Member

  • 9,302 posts
  • Joined: September 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:20

The championship works for the F1 since 1950...but now we have Hamilton, and suddenly the championship doesn´t define the best driver of the year...

What´s next?...Massa was THE MAN in 2008 and not Hamilton?

it never has - I don't know what you are talkking about.. this ins't a spec series.. What have you been watching?

#44 sofarapartguy

sofarapartguy
  • Member

  • 1,267 posts
  • Joined: December 11

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:21

Good thread....

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's gone!

#45 eronrules

eronrules
  • Member

  • 3,395 posts
  • Joined: January 12

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:28

i'll bet even Button doesn't know why he's so highly rated as a driver ... and yet so highly under-rated when it comes to be a WDC contender :p

#46 Anderis

Anderis
  • Member

  • 7,345 posts
  • Joined: December 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:28

Total nonesense.. Lewis would have anihilated Button in total points scored had it not been for all of his car failures this season.. Button is above average..

I hate when someone's response to my post is like this person hasn't read it at all.

Yeah, Lewis shoulda coulda woulda whatever.

3 years is enough to make any variables have pretty little impact on the final outcome between the drivers. If you rate Lewis as a top driver, you also should rate Button pretty high, because he has outscored Lewis as a team-mate over such a long period of time. As I mentioned earlier, it doesn't mean Button is better driver, but he can't be that far away from Lewis if he managed to do this.



#47 wepmob2000

wepmob2000
  • Member

  • 709 posts
  • Joined: October 08

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:38

...because he is a solid number 2 driver and has a championship, this makes him the best number 2 driver on the grid. You do not have to be in Hamilton, Alsonso, Kimi group to be considered good.


He's a very very good number 2 if thats what he is, probably the best ever! Personally I rate him very highly, and even in the top 3 with the proviso that he needs the car under him to get that high... If he's got a car that suits him, I'd put him up there with Hamilton and Alonso, if not he's more of a second tier driver.

Hence I'm one of those people who rates him highly :cool:

#48 r4mses

r4mses
  • Member

  • 2,348 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:42

Just because this years car didn't suit him doesn't mean he is bad, [any driver out there who made it into F1 on merit] is very good when he likes the car.


fixed your post.

#49 Garagiste

Garagiste
  • Member

  • 3,799 posts
  • Joined: January 00

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:53

Ah, nothing changes - I remember a thread from back before he'd won anything which had the delightful title of "Does Jense worth all these fuzz?"
If all the parts fall into place next year and McLaren can stop dropping the ball (both medium sized IFs, I'll grant you) I can easily see him taking another WDC.

#50 PretentiousBread

PretentiousBread
  • Member

  • 2,906 posts
  • Joined: February 10

Posted 27 November 2012 - 18:55

The championship works for the F1 since 1950...but now we have Hamilton, and suddenly the championship doesn´t define the best driver of the year...
What´s next?...Massa was THE MAN in 2008 and not Hamilton?


Unless you're 10 years old, you should be open to that possibility yes. And in 2008 it wasn't Massa no, it was Kubica/Alonso.