Jenson and Schumacher: Maximise the Potential 2012?

DRS when it's done properly still needs skill (the idea is it gets you alongside then you still have to pull the rest of the move of) and I'd rather it still existed so that fast cars can get past back-markers than anything else. Skill will not overcome the laws of physics, which state (and have shown in practice) that the dirty air in F1 has reached a point where assistance is needed.

 

"at least with a normal slipstream the car has to outbrake the car in front instead of cruise past half way down the straight".
But aerodynamic design has nullified the slipstream, making it almost worse than clean air, less stability and harder tyre wear. DRS had to be bought in as we'd almost got to the point that overtaking was impossible due to design, as whoever started first would create such a wash of air that those behind would always be slower due to the loss of downforce in turns. The problem with it is the ruling of it use, but as it's being swapped with turbo boost soon as the way to overtake I doubt they'll change the rule at all.

 

Button and Schumacher could not be more different from each other. Not only in driving styles and achivements but also in personality. The only thing I can think of is that they both improved from 2010. Then again so did Sebastian and many other drivers.

 

I am not putting their driving styles or personalities together as "similar", but the fact Button had been ridiculed in 2010 as Michael has been throughout his comeback. Button surprised everyone this year, Michael could do the same in 2012.

 

I can't see Schumacher winning much more, then again Honda/Brawn, winter 2009...

I believe he has a podium or two in him, maybe even a win, but probably a very lucky one. I'm not sure how long he intends to stay but if he wins a race I can certainly see him retiring that season, going on what is probably the highest he's likely to achieve... this time.

 

I agree with you Bright.
If the car improves at the steady rate it is doing over the last two years, then maybe a few podiums or race wins in 2012.
But for the 8th WDC - which I believe he has the racing potential to still achieve, the car needs to be great (untouchable), which is down to the input from Michael and working together with the team + Nico (which he is known to be good at).
In general, I agree with you about squeezing the odd podium. Which brings him on to his dedication to stay longer in Mercedes to be able to drive a winning car.

 

Thats true but I get the impression from Mercedes that theyre building for 2013 with the new regulations coming into play much like in 2009. If Michael sticks around that long then he has a shot at another WDC. Michael could get on the podium next year though.

 

Unfortunately for Micheal those regs have been pushed back till 2014 now.

 

Did they improve it though? The 2011 car was arguably worse than last years wasn't it?

 

I confess that I do not really understand the opening article of this thread, so I will focus on its title: the potential for Button and Schumacher to "maximise their potential in 2012".

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Maximising one's potential is a many faceted thing and obviously many different factors will come into play, but the most important are these:

• Having the ultimate ability.
• Understanding what needs to be done.
• Forming a realistically achievable plan based upon one's ability and understanding.

In terms of an F1 driver gaining recognition for achievements; this is very much dependant upon two vital factors:

• Having a car which allows them to run towards the front of the grid, with a realistic possibility of winning the Constructors' title - thus being more likely to be in the public eye.
• Beating one's team mate.

And now to the proposition of Button and Schumacher…

• Both McLaren and Mercedes are lagging behind the other two big rivals: Ferrari and Red Bull.
• Both Button and Schumacher have team mates who will make winning a World Drivers' Championship difficult for them, assuming their counterparts to be given equal opportunity.

Of these two, I believe them equally likely to maximise their potential; but Button's potential is far in excess of Schumacher's…

 

Yes you just about understand it, I am comparing Michael and Button's campaign in F1 and how both are progressing in their own ways.
Basically I was mentioning whether they can make better use of their potential with a better car in 2012. I think you are making it a bit more complicated than you can comprehend.

 

Yeah. Probably right…

 

I know you don't think highly of Schumacher but give him some credit - he consistently took dog cars to places they should never have been, created a dream team and became the most successful driver in F1 history. Could Button do any of those things?

 

Well Forza, I just gave my opinion about "potential" because my understanding was that that is what was asked for.

My opinion is that Button has more potential. This is not a slight on Schumacher: it is just my opinion that he has less potential than Button.

 

Schumacher isn't the same Schumacher he once was though. He's in his early forties. Hence surely Button must have more short-term potential?

 

Tyres have got nothing to do with a driver pushing to the max throughout the race, the reason they can't is because of fuel, the cars are under fueled and if they push the car to much they would run out before the chequered flag plain and simple..

And this twaddle about Button only beating Hamilton and coming second in the WDC because he knew which tyres to be on or taking care of his tyres is just that twaddle, it's just another excuse Lewis fans have made up to explain why their man can't beat Button.

 

Whilst I see your point in saying that the cars are under-fuelled to save weight and thus, gain time, tyres (along with engines, fuel etc) have a significant affect on how a driver races. To say that tyres have nothing to do with whether a driver pushes to the max is to infer that a driver can go full tilt for the entire race and that it won't have any effect on the tyres performance! For example, when a driver says 'every lap I did was a qualifying lap' they don't mean that they were using 100% of the cars capability because, regardless of fuel levels, the tyres would simply not last! Rather, they mean that they were pushing very hard but within the boundaries of preserving good performance from their car eg - fuel/tyres/engine/gearbox etc.

How can tyres have nothing to do with the performance the driver gets out the car?

 

Perhaps one of us is missing something? I was under the impression that we were comparing potential.

 

I am afraid you are right here We are comparing the potential of the future, as the past glories may be set in stone, this thread is about how both drivers (with very high potential) will make use of it in the coming years.

 

100 times better is a bit of an overstatement....

You could hardly compare the BAR to the Ferrari.....


And Button did outscore Schumacher in the second half of 06 in an inferior car..