rpm.espn.com: User comments on Button

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Thursday, December 13
User comments on Button

Here's what users had to say about Renault's Jenson Button, his past season and his future prospects:

With a little maturity now Jenson should be able to establish himself as a legitimate contender in 2002. At least that is what is expected of him by a country hungry for a superstar performer!

Russell Chetwynd
San Clemente, Calif.

He won't beat Jarno Trulli, but will have a better season. I don't see Williams taking him back. He should work on connections to other teams.

Dan Alves
Berkeley, Calif.

Button was rushed into Formula One way to soon. His biggest downfall seems to be his lack of experience. Let's face it, the kid won a Formula Renault title -- big deal. Hopefully (team boss) Flavio Briatore will cut his losses next year and sign an experienced driver or promote Fernando Alonso.

Bobby Bettis
St. Louis

F1 is such a soap opera. If Jenson Button lost his focus because of too much partying, only he can say. I doubt it, as no one would want to tool around any F1 course without focus. Usually in F1, it's Ferrari, McLaren and Williams that win. Some other team might have a good car for one race or one season, but that's it. Put Aryton Senna, Michael Schumacher or Jackie Stewart in a Benetton and they'll only score a fifth-place all year.

Louis Menchise
Bronx, N.Y.

Jenson Button's short F1 career is an enigma, indeed. In 2000 he was nothing short of brilliant -- he had several great drives and stunned the F1 world by qualifying third at Spa, deemed the ultimate driver's track. In 2001, he was surprising again -- surprisingly bad, that is. The question is, was it the car or was it Button? Teammate Giancarlo Fisichella had been driving a Benetton for three years, and was obviously more comfortable with the car than Button. Still, after 17 races, results are to be expected. Count on 2002 being a make or break year in Button's career.

Patrick Heber
East Lansing, Mich.

This season Giancarlo Fisichella put on a clinic on how to get the best out of a clearly sub-par car. Talented F1 pilots can raise eye brows in lesser equipment. Jenson Button started out in a Williams and had good performances, but didn't exactly set the world on fire. If Button couldn't keep up with Fisichella in 2001, he is going to have a nightmare of a season in 2002 trying to keep up with Jarno Trulli. At the end of 2001, Renault clearly had the superior launch control system, but Button was still out to lunch.

Todd Michaels
Orlando, Fla.

Jenson Button really needs to beat Jarno Trulli next year if he wants to keep in the spotlight. He will have the advantage of not being the new driver in the team, but many will say Trulli is ultimatly the faster driver. If that proves to be the case, then Button may find F1 life even harder than 2001.

Brian Dunleavy
Dublin, Ireland

Flavio Briattore looks after Briattore. One driver gets the decent kit -- qualifying engines, etc. -- the other just gets dumped on. Haven't you been keeping up? Don't you know this is how "Il Braggattore" works? Pontificate and predict as much as you like, I doubt Button needs your advice. "As simple as that ..." -- what rot. There's more to this than kerbing the apex sooner than the bloke in the other Bennie. With any luck, he'll be out of Lethario's clutches before he does to Button as he did unto Alexander Wurz. Pundits? Pfft.

Paul Goodrich
Manchester, England

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