Honda set to stick with Jenson for 2009
Judging by the opinion of Honda F1 boss Nick Fry, it looks like Jenson Button will be with the team next season. In an interview with the Beeb, Fry bigged up Button, saying: “Jenson is an immensely talented driver. “I am absolutely convinced that if we, at Honda, give him the car that can do the job he can compete with Lewis.”
A couple of things:
1) Jenson is a very good driver - however, he’s not in the same league as Lewis.
2) Honda surely can’t improve their car enough to compete with McLaren next season. Yes, we know that Honda started development on the 2009 car before any other team, and we do excpect a significant improvement from them - but you don’t go from backmarker to podium challenger in the course of one off-season.
3) It now looks more likely that Rubens Barrichello will be released by Honda, with Button keeping his seat. Our tip to replace Rubens? Bruno Senna, who is set to test for them in Barcelona at the end of November.
Do you think Honda and Button can compete with the big boys next year? Vote below or leave us a comment:
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7 responses so far
1 Shiraz // Nov 6, 2008 at 11:06 am
Very sad to hear that since Button has been regularly out paced by Rubens.
Olso over the years from the BAR days he hasnt really shone and if he was as good as all believe then he would have helped develope the car to be much better than it is. Just look at teh turn around Alonso has made with a mediocre Renault this year.
Rubens is much better driver in my opinion and has proved that with his record over the years even though he drove for Ferrari.
2 Ollie Irish // Nov 6, 2008 at 11:37 am
I actually think Jenson has had a slightly better season than Rubens, even though the Brazilian has more points. I’d keep Button, at least for one season.
3 Mark Stevenson // Nov 6, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Ollie — I am not even going to vote on this pole. Jenson is getting a little long in the tooth now and I don’t think he is hungry enough to show his true talent.
Honda would be smart to ditch them both, bring in Anthony Davidson (who would always out pace Jenson and Jacques in Friday practices back when he was a tester) and Bruno Senna, and see who comes out on top between them.
Jenson may have bullocks of talent but unless you have the vision of one day being champion then I think all is lost for a driver.
4 A Ludlow // Nov 6, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Mark, good point. Jense should be booted out pronto.
5 lbh // Nov 6, 2008 at 2:11 pm
There is no way to tell if Jenson is better OR WORSE than Lewis until they are both in the same car. The facts so far are:
1. Honda have failed to provide a car capable of challenging the top teams.
2. Jenson has proved he is better than Rubens.
6 Shiraz // Nov 6, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Davidson showed a lot of potential and would be a good driver to have especially since he has been a test driver for so long.
Maybe its teh right thing to do and replace both drivers but firmly beleive Rubens has more to offer and his stats show that.
7 Joker // Nov 6, 2008 at 4:14 pm
“Jenson is a very good driver - however, he’s not in the same league as Lewis.”
We can’t know that for sure. In both seasons, Hamilton had the best car, no technical failures and an amazing lot of good furtune. Basically, he only had to drive to the finish line to get at least 4th place last season and 3rd place this season. One could argue that’s easier than Button’s job.