So?

 

Maybe it is the weight of all those sad seasons weighing down on JB. I cant find fault with Surtees' argument, but then Ross Brawn I'm sure made a very shrewd decision while deciding to keep him on.

 

It made sense for continuity's sake to keep both Button and Barrichello, in my view. I think that Button, despite last season's woes, is still perceived as ultra quick, yet to peak. I'm not sure I buy into that myself, but I think that's the perception out there, and another reason why he's still around.

 

Screw Surtees. He is a moron. It is clear that the term 'loyalty' is not in his vocabulary. Jense has been nothing but loyal to Brackley.

 

And Button's flip-flops between Williams and BAR?

 

Wouldn't call that a flip-flop. When he made up his mind, he stuck with the outfit through thick and thin to give credit where its due. You also have to acknowledge the fact that he paid Williams out of his own pocket to buy out his contract and stay with BAR.

 

I said it in jest...Button stuck with BAR/Honda/Brawn and I do hope the team does well. I could well understand if he took off in December after Honda announced they were leaving, or even a year or two before then. But I do remember Button being quite adamant about sticking with Williams one year, and the next year being quite adamant about going to BAR!

I do think he's a bit overrated too (I would not rate him alongside Alonso or Raikkonen) but I could be eating my words come this weekend... I remember a quote from Button in maybe '03 or '04 saying that he didn't think Schumacher was anything special. I'm certainly not a Schumi fan, but that quote did strike me as a bit of an odd comment about the winning-est driver ever, coming from a guy who'd never won a race (at that point).

 

^ Cant disagree with you. He has been good in bits and spurts, never really revealing what his true character is. I'm rooting for BGP and hope both drivers can deliver for the team.

As to his comments about Schumi - I'd say true. There was nothing really special about the man, EXCEPT that he had a work ethic and an appetite for wins that dwarfs everyone that has ever been on the grid , bar Senna of course. To folks that criticize Schumi, I only ask them to go back to Brazil 06 where he dropped to last and finished fifth behind Alonso (and im sure gave him a real scare as well). To me Schumi regardless of all controversy is the MAN.

 

That was one of the best drives I have ever seen in racing. Schumacher was possessed in that race.

But lets face it....unless you are in top machinery....your chances at a podium, let alone an overall win are pretty much nil. This year is different. There will be many manufacturers on the podium this year. Its not going to be the usual Ferrar-McLaren-Ferrari, or McLaren-Ferrari-Ferrari, or Ferrari-Ferrari-McLaren crap we have seen the past 2-3 years. Why do you think it was so newsworthy and refreshing to see Vettel and Kubica win. F1 was getting stale. It might as well been a Ferrari-McLaren field only.

 

So are you saying that F1 was stale when Alonso won in 05 & 06, and that Renault's achievements would stale in comparison to Sauber & Toro Rosso.