Can Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button co-exist at McLaren?
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 09 February 2010 - 16:07
Author: Harry Mills
Two world champions, one team, one winner.
Rarely has there been so much excitement for British F1 fans as the 2010 season approaches; the nation boasting two of the best drivers in the sport.
There is only one question on their minds; can Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button succeed together at McLaren?
Dream Team
The pair are already being dubbed “The Dream Team” in Formula 1. It is the first time there has been a double champion line-up since Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost raced for McLaren, back in 1989.
McLaren had a disappointing campaign in the 2009 season. They finished 101 points behind winners Brawn GP in the Constructors Championship accumulating just 71 points; 80 less than the 2008 season.
Lewis Hamilton, a man of many words was clearly unhappy with the performance last year: “We’ve not got a good enough car,” Hamilton admitted at press conference in September. He added: “Next year, we’ll be competing for the wins.”
The solution; a new car and a new driver to compete with Hamilton.
Jenson Button, a journeyman of F1 was still to sign a new contract with Brawn GP at this stage. Both drivers appeared in a joint press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix, seen by many as a partnership already made by McLaren.
At this time a working relationship between the two looked about as likely as Sebastian Bourdais finishing a race.
Four months on and the humility of both drivers is in complete reverse. The reaction of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton suggests both are excited at the prospect of working together at McLaren in the coming season.
Hamilton even said he mentioned Button as a possible candidate to team boss Martin Whitmarsh, just as Nelson Piquet Jr initially claimed he didn’t crash deliberately at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
In 2008 ahead of the British Grand Prix, Hamilton publicly humiliated Button informing him “you’ve got a bit of belly.” Button hit back by challenging Hamilton to compete against him in the Bath triathlon, but Hamilton’s management prevented him from doing so insisting he concentrate on his driving.
New Challenge
Hamilton won’t have been threatened by Button then; there’s no doubt that he will be now.
Button claims money was not the key to his move and that it was the idea of a “new challenge” and uniting with Hamilton that sparked his interest, after signing a three-year contract that will see him net a reported £6 million a year.
Button knows the risks involved in joining McLaren. At the start of the 2009 season, Brawn GP was under no pressure to deliver a world champion and Button won six of the first seven races for only the sixth time in F1 history. The last ten races saw him muster only two podium positions, a less than convincing end to the season.
He arrives at McLaren with a reputation now and will be relied on to repeat similar performances to last year. McLaren are an established force on the circuit and will be looking to rectify the fact that they have not triumphed in the Constructors Championship for 12 years; their last win coming in 1998 when Mika Hakkinen won the Drivers Championship.
Main Man
Hamilton’s value at McLaren has been further strengthened in recent times. He has been involved in the car design and has been their main driver for the last two years. This may yet indicate their inclination to favour the youngest champion in F1 history.
The Stevenage born driver has had his share of conflict with the McLaren team though. In 2007, the 25 year old accused the team of favouring World Champion Fernando Alonso, creating tension between the Spaniard and the young Brit. McLaren ended their contract with Alonso, keeping faith with golden boy Hamilton.
The arrival of driver Heikki Kovalainen the following season consolidated Hamilton’s growing presence at McLaren as the Fin did little to threaten Hamilton on the race track.
Hamilton has always tried to keep a low profile away from the race track and this must be a contributing factor towards his quick success. A recent split from girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger will see him focus even more on his racing.
On the other hand, Button lives in the glamorous Monaco and has had a reputation for being more of a bad boy of F1. He has previously been criticised by Sir Jackie Stewart for his partying ways.
Winning Formula
Hamilton has been tipped to win the 2010 Championship and showed why he is preferred to his team mate after recording better practise times in Valencia recently. But Button has been written off before and will have no problem with being written off again. The focus on Hamilton may suit the former Honda driver.
Hamilton, who perhaps is only outdone by Kimi Raikkonen for having such little personality will benefit from Button’s charm and composure in front of the media.
Both are driven by one common factor; the will to succeed and this ingredient could be the key to McLaren’s hopes.