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[The Second Coming]

Umm...is it reasonable to deduce that had McLaren opted to take their race drivers to in-season testing two weeks ago, Button may have had some time to work on sorting out his setup/tire struggles? He thought it was a waste of his time. The irony is, Lewis wanted to go but was overruled. Compare the two of them on one of the most technical circuits (Spain). Night and day difference. So, if memory serves, according to Whitmarsh, Jenson is the smart one and Lewis "is still learning"...right? How much did that missed test hurt the team? We'll never know precisely but at the rate the others caught up, the general message is clear...it was definitely a missed opportunity. Monaco won't reveal much but roll on Canada!

[What's Burning?]

Umm...is it reasonable to deduce that had McLaren opted to take their race drivers to in-season testing two weeks ago, Button may have had some time to work on sorting out his setup/tire struggles? He thought it was a waste of his time. The irony is, Lewis wanted to go but was overruled. Compare the two of them on one of the most technical circuits (Spain). Night and day difference. So, if memory serves, according to Whitmarsh, Jenson is the smart one and Lewis "is still learning"...right? How much did that missed test hurt the team? We'll never know precisely but at the rate the others caught up, the general message is clear...it was definitely a missed opportunity. Monaco won't reveal much but roll on Canada!

I think you're assessment has one GLARING omission... it didn't hurt the team from a performance standpoint at all, the McLaren was miles faster than any other car in Q3 and that race belonged to Lewis given the history at Barcelona, the rest would have been a fight for a distant second. Jenson needs a car that suits him or he struggles, it's that simple and the car is NOT currently the team's Achille's heel.

[The Second Coming]

Umm...is it reasonable to deduce that had McLaren opted to take their race drivers to in-season testing two weeks ago, Button may have had some time to work on sorting out his setup/tire struggles? He thought it was a waste of his time. The irony is, Lewis wanted to go but was overruled. Compare the two of them on one of the most technical circuits (Spain). Night and day difference. So, if memory serves, according to Whitmarsh, Jenson is the smart one and Lewis "is still learning"...right? How much did that missed test hurt the team? We'll never know precisely but at the rate the others caught up, the general message is clear...it was definitely a missed opportunity. Monaco won't reveal much but roll on Canada!

I think you're assessment has one GLARING omission... it didn't hurt the team from a performance standpoint at all, the McLaren was miles faster than any other car in Q3 and that race belonged to Lewis given the history at Barcelona, the rest would have been a fight for a distant second. Jenson needs a car that suits him or he struggles, it's that simple and the car is NOT currently the team's Achille's heel.

True, to a degree. The car isn't the problem. That's why, as I made my point, if anyone needed to be at that test, it was Jenson. I still feel both could have made an impact on the setup which would ultimately help with Jenson's qualifying and race performance but in the end, they didn't opted otherwise. Lewis does what he does best...setting up the car and getting every ounce of performance out of it.

[Hammer278]

You forget that Button was happy with the car on Friday. Then Saturday came and he was nowhere to be found, and he doesn't understand why either. Don't think the test would've helped much.

[The Second Coming]

You forget that Button was happy with the car on Friday. Then Saturday came and he was nowhere to be found, and he doesn't understand why either. Don't think the test would've helped much.

That speaks volumes to me. He went through his program and loved the car when he appeared atop the timesheets in practice. His troubles began when he realized everyone around him had more to give and was going faster in FP3 and quali. Suddenly his happiness went the way of a turd when you flush. Any time he could have spent in the car during testing may have provided some insight and direction for him. Now, if he did in fact test and still floundered around, then he would have no excuse.

Big picture, once he got into a good car, he beat Rubens then came to McLaren. His first year there, the car wasn't very good but Lewis still outperformed him. Last year, Lewis' life was off the rails and Jenson beat him on points. Lewis is back where he belongs and now Jenson's true colours come to the fore. My biggest fear is, I don't want this deterioration to continue because it could end up like Ferrari...a one drive team. Now that McLaren has, arguably, one of the best cars they have had in several years, I so want to see them with both Championships this year. Won't happen if one driver is supposedly rated very good but can't figure out the car after five races. The season gets tougher on setups for the next five races.

[acosmichippo]

I don't think you can shrug off Jenson's performance in 2011 as Lewis just having a crappy time. Jenson was solid that whole year in a car that was significantly behind the leaders.

In other words, I think his struggles the last couple races are unrelated to anything that happened in 2011, including tires.

[Hammer278]

You forget that Button was happy with the car on Friday. Then Saturday came and he was nowhere to be found, and he doesn't understand why either. Don't think the test would've helped much.

That speaks volumes to me. He went through his program and loved the car when he appeared atop the timesheets in practice. His troubles began when he realized everyone around him had more to give and was going faster in FP3 and quali. Suddenly his happiness went the way of a turd when you flush. Any time he could have spent in the car during testing may have provided some insight and direction for him. Now, if he did in fact test and still floundered around, then he would have no excuse.

Big picture, once he got into a good car, he beat Rubens then came to McLaren. His first year there, the car wasn't very good but Lewis still outperformed him. Last year, Lewis' life was off the rails and Jenson beat him on points. Lewis is back where he belongs and now Jenson's true colours come to the fore. My biggest fear is, I don't want this deterioration to continue because it could end up like Ferrari...a one drive team. Now that McLaren has, arguably, one of the best cars they have had in several years, I so want to see them with both Championships this year. Won't happen if one driver is supposedly rated very good but can't figure out the car after five races. The season gets tougher on setups for the next five races.

I think you're underestimating him quite a bit (never thought I'd say that...) it's just been 1 race. Well...yeah he sucked in Bahrain as well. But he was okay in Shanghai, and surprisingly good in Melbourne. Malaysia can't be counted of course.

[acosmichippo]

Exactly, two races does not make a trend.

[acosmichippo]

[kerc]

Awesome photo.

[LewEngBridewell]

Awesome photo.

It's good to see Sir Frank happy again.

[The Second Coming]

You forget that Button was happy with the car on Friday. Then Saturday came and he was nowhere to be found, and he doesn't understand why either. Don't think the test would've helped much.

That speaks volumes to me. He went through his program and loved the car when he appeared atop the timesheets in practice. His troubles began when he realized everyone around him had more to give and was going faster in FP3 and quali. Suddenly his happiness went the way of a turd when you flush. Any time he could have spent in the car during testing may have provided some insight and direction for him. Now, if he did in fact test and still floundered around, then he would have no excuse.

Big picture, once he got into a good car, he beat Rubens then came to McLaren. His first year there, the car wasn't very good but Lewis still outperformed him. Last year, Lewis' life was off the rails and Jenson beat him on points. Lewis is back where he belongs and now Jenson's true colours come to the fore. My biggest fear is, I don't want this deterioration to continue because it could end up like Ferrari...a one drive team. Now that McLaren has, arguably, one of the best cars they have had in several years, I so want to see them with both Championships this year. Won't happen if one driver is supposedly rated very good but can't figure out the car after five races. The season gets tougher on setups for the next five races.

I think you're underestimating him quite a bit (never thought I'd say that...) it's just been 1 race. Well...yeah he sucked in Bahrain as well. But he was okay in Shanghai, and surprisingly good in Melbourne. Malaysia can't be counted of course.

Right, he was OK in Shanghai and good in Australia. My point of comparison is Lewis first. Jenson's just not quite there overall. I think I mentioned in another post somewhere, Jenson is definitely a good pair of hands in an F1 car but not where he's tipped to be by Whitmarsh and others.

[Hammer278]

Definitely not where Whitmarsh tips him to be, that's for sure...but he can't really say what everyone expects can he. "We expect Lewis to be fighting for wins, and I'm sure Jenson will bring the car strongly into the points".

[racechick]

Do you think thats what he thinks? I think it goes more like "We expect Lewis to be fighting for wins AND I DAMN WELL WANT IT TO BE BUTTON!!

[LewEngBridewell]

I'm pretty sure Whitmarsh wants a 1-2 in every race, regardless of which driver is in front....