Jenson Button can still win the F1 drivers’ title. So says Murray Walker, a statement that suggests the 85-year-old commentating legend might be - how can we put this politely? - living in the past.
When asked to name his top ten drivers of 2008, Murray did not include Button, but went on to defend the English driver:
“I haven’t included Jenson Button, not because I don’t think he’s a damn good driver who’s perfectly capable of winning the championship, because I do think he’s a damn good driver who is capable of winning the championship.
“If he gets the right car next year – and hopefully he will have, because Honda are starting off from the same place as everyone else with the regulation changes – I’m utterly confident that Jenson can win races, and if you can win races you can win the championship.”
Murray’s faith in Button is touching but has no basis in reality. Jenson’s chances of ever becoming world champion are non-existent, unless McLaren or Ferrari suddenly decide to poach him from Honda. That’s not going to happen.
Button may indeed sneak onto a few podiums in 2009 - we’re not saying he couldn’t actually win a race, either - but unless Honda make giant strides in the next couple of years, Button will go down in F1 history as a good driver, not a great one.
Crasher bonus! Button takes on the mighty Nurburgring:
Murray Walker will be part of the BBC F1 commentary team next year, although he’s only being let loose on the web. The Beeb said Murray would be a “regular presence” on the BBC Sport website offering his “expert insight” and “passionate perspective” on the sport, as well as interacting with fans online.
In other words, some young web journo will speak to Murray before and after each grand prix, then ghost a column in his name. The man’s 85 (!!), after all, so we can’t expect too much from him.
Crasher bonus! Watch a compilation of Murray’s most memorable cock-ups:
After much speculation, the BBC has revealed its team to cover F1 next season. This is how they roll:
Studio anchor: Jake Humphrey Crasher verdict: The Beeb’s golden boy is likeable but bland and inexperienced. A weak choice, but he’ll be fine as long as he leaves most of the talking to…
Studio pundits: David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan Crasher verdict: A great partnership in the making. Jordan is always outspoken and DC has great potential
Chief commentator: Jonathan Legard Crasher verdict: Legard is a safe pair of hands and knows his stuff, but he is rather uninspiring
Formula 1 stars embarrass themselves in tribute to network
Emotions were high in the ITV studios yesterday, as viewers in Britain were treated to their final Grand Prix filled with disruptive advert breaks (for the time being, anyway). Before handing over to the BBC, however, the folks at channel three decided to have a bit of fun by singing along to a track by emo chumps My Chemical Romance.
While it’s a questionable song choice (is the refrain “We’ll carry on” appropriate when they obviously won’t be carrying on?), it’s worth it to see Murray Walker singing a tune he had almost certainly never heard before, and to see Lewis Hamilton being far too cool for school.
Hungary, 1995: This photo captures perfectly one of the best schadenfreude moments in the history of F1.
Attempting to assist marshals in putting out the engine fire which had forced him out of the ‘95 Hungarian GP, Japanese driver Taki Inoue was hit by a vehicle driven to the scene by another marshal - the Keystone Cops couldn’t have done it any better. Inoue injured his leg but recovered in time for the next grand prix.
Let a young Murray Walker take you through the closing stages of the 1969 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. With just a few corners to go until the chequered flag, no less than four drivers - Jochen Rindt, Jackie Stewart, Bruce McLaren and Jean-Pierre Beltoise - had a chance of victory. Who won? You’ll have to watch the clip to find out.
