alonso -- one of the drives of the season ?

As I thought you were aware, I have already answered this. Please see my earlier posts.

 

Alonso had a good race and that's all he could have done. I think you are bigging up Button a bit too much there.

 

as i thought you were also aware we had established ( and i gave you the proof ) that button did not have his KERS problem until lap 12 by which time alonso had pulled 6 seconds on button , not to mention jenson had the fastest car on the day before lap 12 ,

http://sport.uk.msn.com/f1/news/button-rues-kers-problems

if you call that good driving from button so be it - just my opinion but i thought that segment of buttons race was pretty poor --

 

If he had THE fastest car up to lap 12 why did he slip back? Are you seriously suggesting he wasn't trying? McLaren would have burned his arse if that was true. What nonsense.

 

Alonso's been doing this all season. Surprising how he's able to keep motivating himself to pour everything into it when he expected to be competing for the championship this season.

 

My opinion of Button's performance is that it was roughly on a par with Alonso's.

In fact, yesterday I ranked them joint equal 'Driver of the Day' in this forum's awards thread, well before becoming aware of exactly when his KERS trouble may have begun (which I heard earlier today from what I regard to be a credible source). But either way, this is a minor point. Once his problem became obvious (regardless of when it began), Button had a real struggle on his hands; and, in my opinion, did a sterling job to hold off a determined attack from what I believe to be a fundamentally quicker car; whilst suffering serious performance, handling and braking problems all at once.

P.S. Although of course, I do not contest your utterly credible source, Martial; one person's proof is not necessarily someone else's. And whilst I'm not suggesting any deliberate concealing of facts, we should always bear in mind that public statements are rarely accidental. My understanding is that McLaren were or still are investigating a fault first showing itself on the parade lap, supposedly rendering the KERS less than fully charged; although as I have said, this may be wrong. However, this is not central to my assessment of Button's drive in any case.

 

This was one of those uncommon races where every man on the podium had a really good drive, like an above their own average good drive and all 3 would have deserved to win. Like the german grand prix earlier this year.

- Hamilton Put his McLaren on the front row which in 2011 if your not Vettel is the equivalent of pole. Had a clean start and for the whole race looked after his tyres (something all his fans have been wanting him to do more off so that was encouraging) and managed the gap to the hard charging Alonso all race with more in hand if needed. Didn't make a single mistake. Won the race.

-Alonso Massively outperforming his car unlike Felipe who? Got the better of Button at the start and kept Hamilton busy, that car isn't really fast enough to be up in 2nd, he is my best driver of the year.

-Button had the loss of 80HP for 6.7 seconds a lap for a sizeable chunk of the race which not only messed his top speed/acceleration but his breaking as well, held off the MUCH faster Webber and clung on to take the podium. All 3 on the podium had slower cars than Webber.

Im going to put Vettels issue down to poor tyre managment took to much out of them off the line and through the 1st corners, took away all the life of the tyre and blew it up - yep thats what happened.

 

Also in the case of Buttons race, I have never held Webber above average, this is no insult the average F1 driver is one of the best drivers in the world and I believe him to be average on quali pace, race pace etc. Poor at race starts. One thing I do think Webber is above average at though is wheel to wheel action.

 

Also in my opinion, my opinion is right

 

In my opinion, that's only if you agree with me.

 

I usually do but as a coincedence of the fact that in my opinion we are both usually correct.

 

thats only my opinion though

 

I believe my opinion is the right one, but if I didn't it wouldn't be my opinion.

 

Fact

 

You 2 -or 3? are just novices. Just stop speculating and wait for my wise words.. I'm the 'sheet' anchor on this forum.

 

The Ferrari has been good at the start of nearly every GP this season, whether in Alonso's hands or Massa's it's nearly always got passed the McLarens at the start, the McLaren gets it's pace later on in the race and chases down the leaders, that has been the way it's been all season, so really there was nothing great about Alonso's drive either, all he did is what has happened almost every other race, relied on Ferrari's start pace. However Button holding up a redbull that has KERS while he has not hasn't happened, in fact generally when both cars are running fine they are pretty close, McLarens only advantage over redbull is it's top end and KERS, everythig else is advantage RBR. that's why I give my vote to Button for DotD, he beat Webber wheel to wheel while riving a sick car.

 

Autosport's Ratings for Abu Dhabi

Vettel 8, Webber 5
Hamilton 10, Button 7
Alonso 10, Massa 5
Schumacher 6, Rosberg 8
Senna 6, Petrov 6
Barrichello 9, Maldonado 4
Sutil 8, di Resta 7
Kobayashi 8, Perez 6
Buemi 7, Alguersuari 6
Kovalainen 7, Trulli 5
Ricciardo 7, Liuzzi 6
Glock 7, d'Ambrosio 5

 

Seems reasonable, Although Vettel only qualified so I probably wouldn't have ranked him overall.

 

maybe i missed something then , was there a quicker car on the day than the mclaren --

 

Yes.
Unfortunately it went off at the first corner.