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[Jamie]

Jenson Button has hit back at critics who claimed his Australian Grand Prix triumph was lucky.

The world champion's win was based on an inspired gamble to pit early for dry tyres while it was still raining to grab the lead when Sebastian Vettel quit with a mechanical problem.

"You can't call this win lucky," said Button who has leapt to third in the championship behind Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

"Some people will say it is, but you can't be lucky that many times. We made the right call at the right time. I had info from the team so I knew where I was."

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And yesterday, as he flew out to Malaysia for the next race, Button revealed he wants to be the exception to the rule which says the opening round winner - this year Alonso - will win the world title.

He believes the race in Melbourne, where his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton could have finished second but for a strategy error, proved that a title scrap was on the cards.

Button said: "I always thought the title might be on. It's a long season. We all want to win the first race because the trend is that the winner goes on to the championship, but we want to be the exception to the rule."

[Ineluke]

It was luck and chance,it wasn't his superior driving that won him the race. People seem to conveniently forget that he had just been overtaken by his team mate who had come from 11th on the grid,he had to do something so he took a gamble. Let's see if Button can come up with the goods this weekend,i have a strong feeling he will be back to his usual place on the grid,Lewis will not be distracted by petty Australian cops hoping to unsettle him before the race.

The article on the front page of this site sums it up nicely.

[Jamie]

It was luck and chance,it wasn't his superior driving that won him the race. People seem to conveniently forget that he had just been overtaken by his team mate who had come from 11th on the grid,he had to do something so he took a gamble. Let's see if Button can come up with the goods this weekend,i have a strong feeling he will be back to his usual place on the grid,Lewis will not be distracted by petty Australian cops hoping to unsettle him before the race.

The article on the front page of this site sums it up nicely.

I think in any sport 'Luck' is a major factor, Valentino Rossi is a good example. But i won't deny Button is lacking in any talent or under standing of the sport. He made A call that got him the win. But if Vettel did not go out, i do have doubts he would of won.....

[bud]

No such thing as a lucky win

[nish2280]

I disagree with him. Many of his wins last year were not luck but this sure was. How can anyone say that if he did not spin Alonso and Schumi at the start the result wouldn't be different? True his decision to change tyre change can be seen as genius but surely he didnt have the pace to catch Vettel. And you cant forget the actions of Mr Webber who himself might have been able to nick 1st if he had not stolen the chance from Lewis Hamsandwich.

Jenson's win was out of luck and chance.

[Amanda]

I think he was lucky his gamble paid off but I wouldn't call it a lucky win. He made an obvious strategic choice which could have gone very badly or, like it did, win him the race. He deserves the credit for it on this occasion. If he'd exited the pits and gone straight into the barriers we'd be calling him an idiot so it's unfair to take the credit away from him when it goes right.

[Jamie]

I disagree with him. Many of his wins last year were not luck but this sure was. How can anyone say that if he did not spin Alonso and Schumi at the start the result wouldn't be different? True his decision to change tyre change can be seen as genius but surely he didnt have the pace to catch Vettel. And you cant forget the actions of Mr Webber who himself might have been able to nick 1st if he had not stolen the chance from Lewis Hamsandwich.

Jenson's win was out of luck and chance.

Spot on, and i don't think this Bear could have said it any better....

[FerrariFan63]

Lewis will not be distracted by petty Australian cops hoping to unsettle him before the race.

[bud]

If this if that..... Thats motor racing there is no luck!

end of the day Button crossed the finish line ahead of the rest so you cant fault him or any winner for that matter!

[headless]

If this if that..... Thats motor racing there is no luck!

end of the day Button crossed the finish line ahead of the rest so you cant fault him or any winner for that matter!

[ivey]

No such thing as a lucky win

Definitely agree!!

[Jamie]

If this if that..... Thats motor racing there is no luck!

end of the day Button crossed the finish line ahead of the rest so you cant fault him or any winner for that matter!

Still, whether he wins or not. Doesn't mean it was well deserved or we could throw in a few 'IFS'

But you know that doesn't seem to be the picture for this year. I Just believe Vettel will speed of for a majority of the race and Alonso i will take it.....Or JB

[madbrad]

How many dozens of times has the leader retired handing te win to the next guy who had no chance in hades of catching him? People very conveniently pick and choose which guys won by luck according to their bias.

[Jensonb]

Talk about burying the lead.

Where's the "BUTTON RAGE!!!!!!! GRRR RARGH!?!?! SNARL?!" in the article?

With a headline like that, one expects to hear Jenson has turned green and thrown a car at a building screaming "JENSON ANGRY! JENSON SMASH PUNY JOURNALISTS!" and we get...Him politely disputing the idea that his win was solely based on luck. This is like when we heard Webber "SLAM HAMILTON'S 'WEBBER WILL RETIRE' CLAIMS" - you know, where he said, very calmly, he knew what Lewis was saying, but politely refuted the rumour.

I am so sick of tabloid "journalism" masquerading as sports coverage !

[RA Dunk]

I am so sick of tabloid "journalism" masquerading as sports coverage !

yup, the media does have a way of making the most out of a very tiny situation, which is why I refuse to ever buy a news paper