Posted on 22/10/2009 at 09:50 by Tom Howard
It seems barely five minutes have passed since Jenson Button became 2009 Formula One world champion and the driver, who has had more than his fair share of criticism, is being criticised once again. Why can’t we just enjoy a Brit being successful?
Formula One is a complex sport and it’s true - if you do not have a good car underneath you it is virtually impossible to win. People will say Button only won the title because of his car and that is an easy answer to come to by briefly looking at the season. However, it takes a good driver and a car to be consistent through 17 races to win a title.
It is very rare that the best car in Formula One doesn’t win both the drivers’ and constructors’ title. It is just the nature of the sport. Michael Schumacher had the best car for four years from 2000-2004 at Ferrari, but when he won titles the car factor was never questioned.
At the end of the day, Button did drive a very good car but he won more races than anyone else and beat team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who incidentally, had exactly the same machinery.
It seems as though Button cannot do right in some people’s eyes. The national press constantly questioned his talent after going 100 races without a win, but when he is at the top of his game that is also not good enough.
I think you have got to hold your hands up and give Button the credit. He is one of the sport’s most talented drivers and he is showing what he can do with faith in his machinery.
With Lewis Hamilton and Button claiming the world titles in consecutive seasons, comparisons are going to be made between the two drivers.
Yes Button has taken his time to make his impact on Formula One, but what we have to remember is he was thrown into the pinnacle of motorsport at the tender age of 20.
Before his first F1 race he didn’t even have a driving licence and he was plucked straight from Formula 3. In comparison to Hamilton, who worked his way through all the lower formulas before landing a seat in arguably the sport’s most successful team.
Hamilton is a very special talent and is destined to dominate the sport in a Schumacher fashion, but he has been gifted a Brawn GP-style car from his first ever race. Button on the other hand has had to work his way up the paddock and show his class in lesser cars. Which, in many ways, is a much more creditable achievement.
One thing that is for certain, next season will be gripping to see if Button can win back-to-back titles.