2009 seems like a distant memory for Jenson Button. His days of winning 6 out of 7 races have long gone and with the current state of his McLaren, a Formula One fan has to wonder whether or not the Brit will ever see the top place of the standings again. Unlike Hamilton, Button is a nice guy. He is a friendly, focused driver who strives to be a good team player and never seems to get into controversy both on and off the track. This season was meant to be his best chance of adding to that World Championship tally, having a much younger and inexperienced driver in Sergio Perez under his wing and leading the McLaren team to multiple grand prix victories. This wasn't to be. Not down to Button's doing, McLaren have wasted away this season. They should be right at the top of the Constructor's Championship, fighting it out with the likes of Red Bull and Lotus. But still, they find themselves mid-division battling with Torro Rosso's and the Force India's. If we look at the individual performance of Button, the 33 year old has put in some sublime performances. Comparing his season to that of Perez's and you get a good feel for why Button is a World Champion and leader of McLaren. But then that isn't enough. Button has to do something - and fast, if he is to gain another World Championship before his days in Formula One are up. He has shown no signs of giving up yet, but one has to question his motives to stay in the sport, if McLaren cannot come up with a solution to their current dilema.
Button and Red Bull? Most recently, Sky Bet slashed their odds of Button joining Sebastian Vettel next year from 66/1 to 9/2, a huge drop in price. As a huge Button fan, I very much doubt that JB would leave a place like McLaren, where he knows the team and how they work to become Vettel's Number Two. There are numerous similarities in the driving styles of both Button and the current Red Bull driver, Mark Webber. Both are very sensible when it comes to looking after their tyres and working through the race in a smooth fashion, and whilst this is a good method to have, we all know the situation between Webber and Vettel at the moment, and if Button was smart, he would do everything he can to avoid that. Jenson Will Fight On Despite this current state of affairs for McLaren and Button, we have to remember the years when Button wasn't even on the radar of Formula One. A mere backmarker among the immortals at the front, Button has had to work exceptionally hard every year to earn a place to be in the sport, and this incident with his car at the moment will only make the Brit more determined to do well next season. If I was a betting man, I would say that Button won't leave Formula One until he has had another good stab at winning that World Championship again. Give him a car that can fight for wins and podiums and if he is still struggling to remain with the pace of his rivals, then maybe it is time to bow out. Until then, however, I expect the 33 year old from Frome to be back in the thick of it very shortly.
James Holder www.twitter.com/thejamesholder1