Interesting stuff from JB here, cannot help feel though that he is perhaps neglecting the fact that over the course of the year McLaren have had the joint fastest car and that he just has no got the maximum out of it on enough occasions http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/05/jenson-button-mclaren-worst-car
I think all the valid points have been raised and regardless of whether or not you are a Mclaren or Jenson fan, I think the concerns over next year (or uncertainty) are justified. For me as a Jenson fan I am worried as I feel that his frailty in qualifying this season has exposed him badly. I do however take heart from comments posted that "IF" Lewis was not His teammate Jenson would have had 4 poles and would have potentially won more races even with his bumper car mid field spell and that puts a different perspective on what is a bad season! I think bad compared to Lewis is the equation! Mclaren have probably looked at all the data and established (in the fictional world of what if's) that Jenson would have X amount of poles, X amount of wins and be on a points total that would be in contention for the WDC? I would imagine that for the 2013 Mclaren will concentrate solely on Jenson which should favour him from a pressure aspect. I'm optimistic that Jenson could be more of a WDC challenger than ever but I have been humbled into submission that Jenson has been border Line embarrassing this year.
I will guarantee that McLaren will not "concentrate solely on Jenson". It is not in McLaren's DNA to follow the methods of say, Ferrari (or another team determined to out-Ferrari Ferrari), in pre-determining a 'favourite'. I hasten to add that this is not to say that if or when the maths eventually suggest an advantageous logic to put weight behind one driver due to relative standing in the Drivers' Championship, they would not do it. Of course they would – now that the rules explicitly allow it. But it is a mistake to think that McLaren will set out their stall like this in the first instance. McLaren is a highly competitive place where the whole philosophy is based upon survival of the fittest and proving one's worth. Regardless of salaries and investments, both drivers get equal billing prior to and at the start of every season.
As a fellow fan this sums up my feelings quite well. With him being 33 at the start of next season the end of his career while not iminent is certainly within sight and i wonder how key 2013 will be to how he is remembered. Its his chance to lead a massive team like McLaren and his best shot at becoming a double world champion. A very big season for him, probably the difference between whether he will still be mentioned 20 years from now. True, but they clearly expect Jenson to step up to the plate. He will also be a known quantity for them so surely if it was important that the car fit Jenson's style before it will be absolutely crucial now.
But I doubt Perez will be released until 2013 so McLaren will have to design their car around Button and then try and adapt it for Perez if needed once he turns up.
Valid point and maybe I didn't word my thoughts correctly. I didnt mean that they would favour/design/promote Jenson as the No1 driver, just that they may not have to balance the design/development/strategy in an attempt to satisfy or appease 2 drivers. Whilst nothing is guaranteed you would think that with Jensons experience and his knowledge of the DNA within the current and future car that he will elevate the neccessity for the team to balance decisions and allow them to focus based on his performance merits! This is his opportunity and it would be crime if he was unable to maximise the opportunity that's has provided itself.
Yes, McLaren will regard Button's input as vitally important now. Equally, Hamilton's input for design will have already been shut down. And this illuminates another potentially interesting scenario doesn't it? – One need [*not] be an expert to discern whether Perez or Hamilton has a driving style closer to that of Button. One of the difficulties of the HamBut relationship has been to provide a car for two drivers whose styles could hardly be further apart. It is therefore quite feasible that McLaren will be able to produce a less compromising car for the Button/Perez pairing, which should suit them both. Indeed, it is a moot point that whilst teamed with both Alonso and Button, Hamilton may have had to compromise more than he might have preferred. On the other hand, by comparison to those two, Kovalainen's driving style is considerably closer to Hamilton's…
I'd say that next season will be a bigger test for Jenson than his first year at McLaren. Despite not being number one he'll likely be looked to as a team leader. Despite what seems to be a lack of form this year, he's proved he's capable of performing well at McLaren so his seat is justified, but for a shot at the title, McLaren need to provide him with a car capable of winning and he needs to make sure he's on top of his game, because Alonso and Vettel are likely to continue their impressive form.
Yeah, I'd agree with that, Bhaji. In particular – and despite what I fully expect to be equal billing – I agree that a lot more will be expected of him than Perez. In this sense, there will be more pressure on him at McLaren than ever before. Naturally, the newcomer to a team is given some lee-way during a nominal settling-in period.
Jesnon has proved he's capable of beating the best but he needs to do that consistently if he has any hope. Based on this season's performance and the team's failings, I don't see it happening but next season's another year and Lewis being out of the way should play into his hands. Time isn't on his side now and, given Red Bull's momentum, he needs to get a grip, so to speak
Rather than a fast car McLaren should probably try and design one whose optimum set up window is wider and easier to locate knowing Button.
That is very important when you consider Button's fluctuating form over a season, even with Brawn when in the second part of the season Barrichello easily had the measure of him when for some reason they lost their way with the car setup. If they also cannot find something to allow him to switch the car on during qualifying and he cannot always get out of Q2, which has been an issue for him over several seasons, he will again be around 6th place all the time. Not good enough! McLaren will expect him to take the team forward as the no.1 driver (lets face it, he will be looked upon as that). If the car doesn't work again for him next year, he can't really look to anyone else to blame.
Am I the only one how thinks that Button has a good chance of getting the WDC next season? Button has done so much better that I thought he would do at McLaren, he seems a good fit for the team, and I think his and Perez’s styles will help develop a car they can both drive well. If McLaren can get a good car from day 1, and if McLaren can cut out these silly mistakes I think Button will be in the title fight all next season. McLaren have always done better then they’ve had an undisputed number 1 driver, and next year they will have just that for the first time since 2008/9. In fact, when was the last time the WDC was won by a team that didn’t have an undisputed number 1?
The tyres are again changing next year so that could have a major effect on Button, which way I'm not sure.
Hi happyal ! It's good to see that some do not think it should all be doom and gloom for Button next year. He will certainly be looked upon as McLaren's senior driver and be expected to claim more points than his junior team-mate. However, unless Drivers' Championship standings show a simple mathematical logic of doing otherwise, Perez will be given equal opportunity along the way. Your final question is an interesting one. Despite unfavourable results, Kovalainen was also given 100% equal billing: he himself admits that he was simply out-gunned by a better driver at the time. Such was the difference in Heikki's début season that it also affected his confidence for the following year and despite good qualifying performances, he simply couldn't keep up during the races.
Heikki had the pressure of replacing Alonso plus he had only had one year at Renault as a full time driver. Add to that the fact that Hamilton had such an amazing first season and was already viewed as one of the best drivers on the grid then I don't blame Heikki for not doing well. Some people need time to take the pressure and others can just get stuck in straight away, Heikki is the former. I believe if Heikki was at a top team now he would be a lot more comfortable and competitive.
Agreed that Heikki was given the same equipment, and he was turned into a number 2 driver by results. But you could say the same about Massa. Also answering my own question, I think the last WDC to win it without being a undisrupted number 1 was Kimi Raikkonen.
