The mind Games are in full swing :)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/19/jenson-button-f1-mclaren

Redbull know that the true threat to to them at McLaren in Hamilton, so they know they have to praise button to high heaven in the hope that it will cause
as much team in fighting as possible.

"Hamilton's contract with McLaren expires this year and although he is expected to sign a new agreement Martin Brundle, the Sky's F1 commentator, said in the April edition of Motor Sport: "On his day, Lewis is unbeatable, and yet I suspect McLaren are wondering whether or not they want to keep him, because he brings so much baggage with him.""

As for Brundle, I still reckon he has a thing for Hamiltons other half, but his hatred for him is up there with cloutard , so won't mind doing a bit of stirring, either way, going to be a good season I reckon!

 

what?...

 

I did like the....

Red Bull tip Button: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17284142

Hamilton disagrees: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17359725

Then agrees: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17413616



I disagree with Brundle having a hatred for Hamilton. He just has an opinion based on things we all can see.

 

hamilton is one of the most overrated drivers ever. No way is he as good as you think.

 

can't agree with the article. Period.

 

I dont read it that way!

I think they are all contenders and maybe in 10 races time there will be only 2 - who knows? I think ist very easy to misread the quotes and the context they were said in, every interview I have seen with Horner he has never particularily highlighted JB as the only threat, but one of several!

In relation to Button V Hamilton, I would imagine that Horner may be more worried with Jensons pace and consistencey and his ability to total points against Hammiltons ability to wim more races on pure speed but have the potential for my forced errors?

 

I don't believe they do think that about Hamilton, ever since Hungary 2011 he has been disintegrating.

Jenson Button is the main threat now for Adrian Newey

 

We all read things how we like, and then others can read and take what we thought we meant all wrong too. The further a story goes (generally) the further from the original meaning it gets.

Going off recent commentators I'd say Coulthard isn't Hamiltons biggest fan, but I know that expecting the commentators to be completely impartial has no chance, especially when they are opinionated in the first place.

 

Not only that, but they operate in the circus off F1 and deal with people in that circle on a dialy basis. They are bound to form opinions based on information we the punter will probably never hear. Not defending it its just different to other sports like Footy pundits or the like.

 

Why would Hamilton be a bigger threat than button? I don't think they play any mind games at all. It is merely based on the statistics of the both McLaren drivers. Button has been the stronger one lately.

I said this since 2010, If I were a team boss I would choose Button over Hamilton any day as my driver. Rather have someone who is consistently in the top than someone who either win or lose big. Just as Alonso, even on a bad day, he is still up there.

Hatred? I think you are reading things that aren't there.

Just to make sure I don't come across as a Hamilton hater, because I am NOT.
I did a bit carting(very amateurish) when I was younger and my driving style would be much like Hamiltons. I can't stand not winning and tends too take to big risks at times. During my 50 or so races I did I won 20, placed second 2 times, third 1 time and after that it was all below 10th. A dear friend of mine that I raced with only won 2 times I believe but I don't think I ever saw him below 6th place. He would be a team owners pick 99% of the time I think should we had been professionals. I can very well understand why, but I will still keep driving the way I do.

I don't think Hamilton CAN change, though I really hope he does because id love to see him win another WDC by his own merit rather than having the best car.

 

Lewis is both the most likely McLaren World Champion, and the biggest threat to McLaren winning a World Championship.

I say that because if he produces his best for most of the season, the remaining 19 races will simply be his coronation. But the likelihood is that he'll generally be on good form but have some stinkers, as he always does. If so, much like in previous years him and Button will take points off each other. That's neither driver's fault, and despite the media's best efforts to portray a rift I think there is genuine respect there, but mathematically it could make the difference between a McLaren driver and a Red Bull or Mercedes driver winning it.

 

I dont believe it. There are actually still people that write off Jenson Button.

 

I find it strange aswell that given since they have been paired JB has scored more points. I think 2 seasons is a sound enough period to compare two drivers in equal machinery.

I do agree with some other comments that the Mclaren drivers themselves are their own worst enemy. They will take points of each other potentially allowing another team to snatch the WDC.

 

I think Jensons drive is in part due to having such a competitive team mate, having Hamilton as a team mate and a world championship under his belt has made Jenson into the driver he is today in my opinion.

Coulthard still has strong ties to red Bull, I wouldn't expect him to go against their mind games. Red Bull may not believe Lewis is the biggest threat but they can probably see he is the most susceptible of the 2 McLaren drivers to mind games.

If Newey hasn't given Red Bull the top car this season then Horner is going to have to start earning his money and mind game sis where he excels. I foresee some very interesting interviews over the next 9 months with Mr Horner if they keep finding themselves off the front row of the grid and the top place on the podium

 

I agree with this. Nail on the head, IMO. Incidentally, Horner was in full contradictory bullshit mode on Saturday trying to explain to Lee McKenzie why Vettel was sixth on the grid: "We don't know why it happened..........(one min later)... Well, at least we know what happened"!!!

 

if they dont wanna give lewis a new contract then they will focus on button this season and give him the best strategies.
im not suprised tho,ive got that impression ever since whitmarsh took over,he doesnt seem to like lewis much.

 

what? - where on earth do you get that from?
Favouritism to Button? Did Whitmarsh arrange for JB to get to the first corner ahead of Hamilton?

When Button is at one with his car- he is superb, but it has to be set up well.
Hamilton can wring the car's neck even if its not perfect, but he is erratic.

 

I think as Brundel said, when Hamilton is on form he is unbeatable, he just needs to find his form. I was quite surprised to see Nicole back in the pits, can't help but think a stint at a team in the lower half of the grid and without his entourage and out of his comfort zone, would do Hamilton some good. If McLaren don't keep him I could see him in a Lotus or Williams which I don't think would be a bad thing, he's got plenty of career in front of him.

 

They don't give one driver a good strategy and the other a crap one. Most of the time there is an optimum strategy deduced from practice, testing and circuit data. The driver's job is to deliver that strategy. In some circumstances the advantage of one strategy over another might be minimal, or one driver might be particularly uncomfortable with the optimum strategy and in that case the team may split strategies. In others specific circumstances in the race may make the agreed strategy untenable so they'll have to switch from Plan A to Plan B. In any event, the drivers are part of the decision-making process.

That's fair enough. In my opinion Whitmarsh celebrates a Hamilton victory as much as a Button victory - he wants the team to win more than one or other of the drivers. I've never seen any evidence of favouritism.

 

There is a video clip on BBC of Button playing Pool with JH - There is a particular question Jake asks Jenson about Lewis and about surrounding themselves with people who will make your life easier (as JB said). If you listen to the answer and watch his face while considering the question I felt it was very informative on the situation and the differences between the two off them at race weekends.