Is Jenson Button Elite?

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Is JB now an elite driver?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Unsure

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Kyle?

Kyle?

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2011
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I ask this question, because many never consider him to be a top driver, yet this season he's been pretty much even with his team mate, who is considered an elite driver. What is your opinion, has Button's sharp uptake in form warranted him to be mentioned alongside the Alonso's and Vettel's of this world?
 
He's having a good season, but I'd be a little bit apprensive putting him in the Alonso/Hamilton/Vettel bubble. (Although personally I rate him higher than Vettel, but that may be my bias). I don't think he's a quick enough qualifier to be in the group... but if he beats Lewis over the season, and does it again next year then he's certainly up there.
 
No, in my opinion not quick enough over a couple of laps. In the race though and tyre management and right calls, yes of course, but on raw pace he is not as fast as Alonso, Hamilton or Vettel.
 
He needs another WDC before he can be put into that category.

On his day, when the car is perfect, he is hard to beat, but an elite driver can drive around a cars problem if it isn;t perfect. Jenson just seems to complain about it.
 
Cowboys From Hell said:
I ask this question, because we never consider him to be a top driver, yet this season he's been pretty much even with his team mate, who is considered an elite driver. What is your opinion, has Button's sharp uptake in form warranted him to be mentioned alongside the Alonso's and Vettel's of this world?
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Who are "we"?

Only two drivers in the real "elite bubble" is Schumacher and Alonso(because they have proven it over and over). It's too early to say about Vettel, need a few more seasons on him first. And between the McLarren drivers, Button has been ahead of Hamilton since day one. Hamiltons ability to press the pedal to the metal is not a measurement of how elite you are, more the amount of daredevil you are. I believe that Button have the same "raw speed"(hard to compare their very different racing style) but just choose to risk less compared to Hamiltons all or nothing approach where he most often drives beyond the safe limit. Some times it works wonders and some other times he fails miserably. Hamilton is bit of an optimist and gambler, while button is a realist and strategist.

Oh I forgot, I think Rosberg should be up there close to the bubble as well. And I cheer and wish for di Resta and Senna to get up there too soon :)
 
allsaintchris said:
He needs another WDC before he can be put into that category.

On his day, when the car is perfect, he is hard to beat, but an elite driver can drive around a cars problem if it isn;t perfect. Jenson just seems to complain about it.
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He has won the same amount of WDC as Hamilton; does Hamilton need to win another WDC to be considered elite?


I would class Button as an elite driver; if you look at his statistics when he has had a race winning capable car they are pretty much as good as anyones. Yes if the car is badly balenced then he does struggle but all drivers have their weaknesses apart from really Alonso. However when Button is happy with the car then he is as fast as anyone and can overtake as well as anyone, not to mention how good his racecraft is and his wet weather skills.
 
allsaintchris said:
He needs another WDC before he can be put into that category.

On his day, when the car is perfect, he is hard to beat, but an elite driver can drive around a cars problem if it isn;t perfect. Jenson just seems to complain about it.
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Does that mean that Alonso and Schumacher (until Vettel wins this year) are the only "Elite" drivers?

I would say yes he is, because when he is on form, he is as quick as anyone and can pretty much do anything. He does have his off days, but so does everyone.
I wouldnt say being Elite is anything about having as much titles as possible, but how you drive and you can see who is better than others by how they race. Example: Schumacher has 91 wins and 7 titles, Rosberg has 0 wins and 0 titles, statistically Schumacher is better, but over the last season and a half, Rosberg has definately been the better.
 
What makes an 'elite' driver?

If being a World Champion makes one elite, then yes he is.
If being a driver of choice for the F1 connoisseur makes one elite, then yes again because he has many fans among hardcore fans.
If a driver needs multiple titles, then no.

I think the question here though is that there's a popular perception that Button 'lucked into' his WDC and he isn't given the corresponding kudos afforded to other WDCs, and has he now proved that he is a worthy champion? I'd say yes, his driving this year has been exemplary: he's well-known for his smooth style and cerebral, strategic view of racing; to this he's added a series of really aggressive through-the-field performances this year which have been exciting to watch.

I doubt I'll ever be a Button 'fan' per se but three consecutive years of performing right at the sharp end of the championships means he must be elite, surely. More important for me as a spectator, he's now also one of the most exciting to watch. Well done, as Jake would say. ;)
 
I'd be tempted to agree that Button needs to win the WDC to silence some of his doubters. I'd also say his poor qualifying record does not work in his favour. He is certainly a great driver though, and deserves to be remembered as such, not as the Villeneuve of the modern era some claim him to be.

However, the other thing I would say is people putting Hamilton in this "elite" category is contentious. Certainly his attitude since a disappointing 2009 season has been poor; and his lack of discipline this season alarming. He definitely has the pace, that's not in dispute, but a truly elite driver, in my view, requires discipline and attitude about such things. (Note that Alonso, Germany last year aside, has been a lot less outspoken these last couple of years)
 
tomtom94 said:
I'd be tempted to agree that Button needs to win the WDC to silence some of his doubters. I'd also say his poor qualifying record does not work in his favour. He is certainly a great driver though, and deserves to be remembered as such, not as the Villeneuve of the modern era some claim him to be.

However, the other thing I would say is people putting Hamilton in this "elite" category is contentious. Certainly his attitude since a disappointing 2009 season has been poor; and his lack of discipline this season alarming. He definitely has the pace, that's not in dispute, but a truly elite driver, in my view, requires discipline and attitude about such things. (Note that Alonso, Germany last year aside, has been a lot less outspoken these last couple of years)
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Urr 2009? Maybe they are not doubters but more like denyers.
 
Mifune said:
Urr 2009? Maybe they are not doubters but more like denyers.
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Exactly for me Jenson has proved me totally wrong, I was among the people who were shocked at his move to McLaren, but it has made him a better driver and Lewis as well. His win at Canada this year finally silenced me once and for all about his overtaking, mental and pure racing talent, although I think everyone can agree he will never be as quick as Fernando, Sebastian or Lewis. But he doesn't seem to bothered about that, because he always has a smile on his face unlike Hamilton unless he wins.
 
Does he advertise Gillette or Head & Shoulders?

He wasted too much time at BAR to recover an Elite standing when he retires.
 
nashville said:
Does he advertise Gillette or Head & Shoulders?

He wasted too much time at BAR to recover an Elite standing when he retires.
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It doesn't matter about what he advertises unless it's vile or offensive. He proved me and others wrong in 2010 and so far this year and of course in 2009.
 
I suppose you could say then, that this season, Button has been Head & Shoulders (cough, cough) ahead of Hamilton <laugh>

But in all seriousness, i like the new found raciness that he's started using. He has to be considered one of F1's best overtakers now too. What is it, 50+ overtakes he's made this season, not one crash.
 
Another thing is, if he isnt considered elite then why is Vettel? As Vettel had the best car (on average) in 2009 and failed to win the championship and Button did.
 
I am a big JB fan so I would have to disagree with people who say he lucked into a WDC - if that is the case then so has Vettle with The RBR and so did Alonso with unstoppable Renault! He proved in 2004 against the dominant Ferrari and Schuey with clear No1 status that he could race the fastest and I think it is absurd to state that he only won in a dominant car, even though the Brawns development and JB's driving was less strong in the latter stages and brought into question his ability!

Having said that I dont think he is ELITE, maybe close though? Winning another WDC will not be the correct judgement either, it will be who he beats, in what type of car and the calibre of his team mate! Surley competing for a WDC with a strong team mate taking a good haul of points from your title challenge is a better judge of your abilty than winning a WDC in a dominant car with 100% reliabilty and no competition from your team mate?

In relation to the greats/elite I think is is difficult to be that whilst still driving, its sort of a restrospective thing, like Senna, Prost, Clark, Fangio etc and Schuey drops into that because he retired and ultimatley had the best stats! Alonso will enter this list (undoubtedley) and probably so will Vettle! Lewis has alot to prove yet and could well be an all time great or a driver that everyone says "what could have been"! If JB wins a WDC against Lewis (in the same car) with the likes of Alonso and Vettle in the field of competition, then he would probably have a legitimate claim!
 
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