Max: I've just voted "Other" but having done so, I have to ask why you didn't include Irvine in your poll? - I think he'd have got a ****- load of votes and won it by a slippery landslide!
Yes, perhaps Ted's funniest moment. I get the feeling he's not impressed by Irvine either Does anyone like him? Good point, Cosi. I didn't because Eddie's remark about Button was meaning drivers of today, not has-beens like Irvine. I could have another poll: Who's the biggest number two of all time?
Button is clearly NOT a number 2 driver. Compare his performances to Kovalainen's. Most blatant one in F1 currently is a toss-up between Massa and Webber. Which you believe to be more blatant depends on your view of certain incidents last season (Turkey, Silverstone, Germany) as well as Webber's massive points gulf.
Casting Irvine himself aside (which is what everyone really should do with him), I realise I've not actually given an answer. I voted "Other" (for Irvine himself), but of current F1 drivers I have no doubt at all: Massa.
Well, Ted certainly cast him aside in style. I also loved his line about "the life of Eddie Irvine nowadays", watching one of the Gypsy Kings. Oh, and "Turty Tree and a Turd" cracked me up. I have to say I'm really puzzled by the very idea of Button as a number two driver. I'm sure he wasn't hired as one and he certainly doesn't drive like one. I wouldn't call myself a fan but this year he's been the best I've seen him and really compelling viewing with it. Along with Alonso, he's the top driver who has really impressed me the most this season.
How has Button been voted the biggest number 2 in f1 currently? It is obvious how Martin Whitmarsh has so much praise for Button when he sucedes and he is given freedom to choose any strategy he desires and to go offensive against even his team mate 'Lewis' which was on display in Hungary this season. Due to Alonso's attitude I think Massa has been forced to be number two, whenever it is not going lonso's way he spits the dummy or makes an outrageous move to get past his team mate (Shanghai 2010/hockenheim 2010). Alonso very talented but his attitude is disgusting when it is not going his way.
i agree Alonso has a very bad attitude but so does Hamilton who acts like a spoilt child god the 2007 mclaren engineers must have dealt with so many spit dummy's
How do you define biggest? Do the best or the most obvious? Its not Button, Hamilton or Rosberg anyway because not of them number 2 drivers. As for Irvine its good to know people in the F1 circle know how much of a twat he is. He gets the same response to pretty much everything he says.
Yes, I read Jenson's response - Button bites back! Very funny. I think that perhaps the idea of a number two driver is quite complicated. It was more common in the past to have clear cut roles within a team but now more teams field two drivers on an equal or equal-ish footing. Then again, while both drivers in a team may be nominally equal, one driver may presume he's number one and behave accordingly; we, the spectators, may also presume one driver's superiority and judge accordingly. Also, one driver may assume the role of de facto number one by upping his game and out-performing his team mate race after race. For example, I wouldn't see Nico Rosberg as a number two driver but I suspect Schumacher presumes that he's number one. Or, until recently, Buemi was clearly the senior driver at Toro Rosso while Alguersuari was seen as so weak that he was about to be sacked. Now Buemi's position looks the less secure and Jaime is driving like a "superhero", ahem. God is a DJ, apparently
Voted for Massa - He rarely challenges Alonso, he doesn't complain to the media about the team and he is willing to give up his chances of victory. Massa's defence against Alonso in Spa proves to me that he isn't currently a number two driver, but he is best suited to that role. Webber is also a strong candidate but before 2011 he was very quick and pushed his teammate hard. Also his attitude isn't suited to a No.2 driver role. If Horner told Webber to let Vettel past, I'm sure Webber's response would be something like "**** off!". Button is too good to be a number 2 driver, whoever his future teammate might be.
well i'd say statistically the best number 2 has to be Rosberg as he keeps trouncing his team-mate. As to who is the biggest number two, i think that was self proclaimed last year, Webber, a number 2 in every way.
i dont know how anyone can call Jenson a number two? :O This year he has been leading the mcLaren team and had it not been for two DNF's which werent his fault he would be the clear second place!!! Lewis is far more of a number two driver this season. Fact.
According to the poll, Button currently has six votes! I've not counted that many people saying it in these comments (then again, I've not actually counted!) but it seems to me that more people are defending him. Quite right too!
I don't see button as a number two driver, but I understand where you guys are, coming from. Webber would be the best number two for me and although he is very skilled and could be a candidate, Massa seems to have lost his way in the past 2/3 seasons.
I know it was brilliant, he was probably thinking this will teach you for swearing on my ONLY segment of the race weekend! BRILLIANT!!
I think Webber is treated like a number two the most out of any other team; Massa has just become a number two driver by lack of performance but Ferrari still give him equal treatment to Alonso. I do not have the feeling that Red Bull give Webber and Vettel equal treatment, just look at last year where they took it in turns to come out last for their final quali runs, this year they have stopped doing that and it is always Vettel out last. Red Bull always seem to use Webber as a test for strategies in the race for Vettel as well. Webber has also been the only driver who has been properly subjected to team orders.
