Button set to stay at BAR-Honda

[AlBDamned]

BAR seemed to do it with a lot of success this year

That's a very good point actually. But, Button did surprise many people with his professionalism and performances when that part of the saga was ongoing in 2004. And, once he committed to BAR this season, he committed. Shame BAR got banned early on, but they then proved wrong, those critics who wondered if they'd been cheating all of last year, by making the car quick again mid-season this year.

Maybe Sir Frank has more class than to drag his team into a CRB case. Or maybe they needed the money. Or both. Williams is a shrewd guy so you can be sure he's happy with various aspects of the deal. I'd be surprised if he ever went near Jenson again though. Unless he became World Champ.

 

[iGav]

You're right, you should never write off a team of their calibre but an improperly callibrated wind tunnel?

The improperly calibrated wind tunnel is really the main area that has significantly affected Williams performance, as the tunnel was incorrectly calibrated when it was built, then thus the aero performance predictions and results have been flawed.

I do recall reading that because of this they're lacking in downforce... when the FW27 was launched we certainly noticed that the car was lacking in simplicity and sophistication compared with the McLaren. And that downforce seem to be a concern for the team.

I lost count of the times I saw poor and newly promoted Sam Michaels on TV saying they had 'messed up and they would learn from it'.

There was no need to replace Patrick Head with Michaels was there... I'm of the opinion (as you are) that Michaels is the weak link, he's made far too many bad calls that I'm really surprised he hasn't been replaced.

Tyres have been a major issue again this season. Next year will be an unknown quantity but it does annoy me how much effect these damn things have on the championship.

Me too... bring back Goodyear Eagles of the big FAT slick variety

BAR seemed to do it with a lot of success this year

That's because once Button realised Honda had bought a massive stake in BAR (with the option of purchasing the rest later) at the end of last season... he'd made the wrong decision in signing for Williams. That's why he's been happy to drive for BAR-Honda all season. and that's why he's spent the best part of this season trying to weasel his way out of his contract.

Shame BAR got banned early on,

They were lucky they weren't kicked out.

if they'd been cheating all of last year, by making the car quick again mid-season this year.

It was alleged (supposedly by an ex-member of BAR-Honda... I wonder who could be pissed enough to let it slip??? hmmmm ) that they were using the same system last year.

I'd be surprised if he ever went near Jenson again though. Unless he became World Champ.

I don't think he'll want to know even if Button was WDC. Williams doesn't really give two hoots about that, just look at Mansell, Prost, Hill and Jacques.

Eddie Jordan has said what many are probably thinking though...

Eddie Jordan said: "If I was a team manager, I would be thinking 'how could I possibly sign a contract with Jenson Button when seemingly every contract he does sign he no longer wants to honour?' He must be very careful not to become tainted goods."

 

[AlBDamned]

This year's car launches were before my time on Mac Rumors but yeay - that car was whacked before it even got on the track!

Seriously though, I think Michaels had this sort of golden boy thing going on. He was getting lots of coverage the year before he took over from Patrick Head. It looks like it may have been too soon for him.

On BAR: I'm pretty sure they would have been running that weight/fuel system all of last year, but what I mean about proving the critics wrong this years is that you'd hope they are no longer using it. However, the car is now quick this season so they are doing something right (or cheating again )

I thought with BMW, Williams were going to get back on top but it seems there just wasn't as much integration as either side had hoped over those four/five years. Now Williams are facing another Silvertec (?) year in a way.

Have to say also, if an improperly calibrated wind tunnel was the reason this year then how do you explain this in 2004 - The Walrus!

 

[Counterfit]

The ONLY fair aspect of this Analysis is in 2003 when they were teammates. However, you'd also have to include the fact that JV had about 7x the mechanical failures that JB did.

The count was 8 for JV, and 5 for JB, with one DNS apiece (JV: Japan; JB: Monaco)

You're clearly an F1 fan, so you should know that points analysis reveals absolutely nothing, particularly when people are in different teams. It only determines which car was faster.

*cough* 1994, 1995, 2000.

In 2003 JV and Button were fairly evenly matched. JV had horrendous luck, Button was Richards' wonderkid and JV was despised. The atmosphere was not one that induced any kind of success, and JV battled through it. Sorry, I don't buy what you're selling.

Somehow, I can only think that he brought it on himself...

As for Fisi, he's always been overrated. This season proves that he doesn't have the stuff. Yes, he's had the same kind of mechanical malaise that JV had in 2003, but he rarely seems to be on pace with Alonso when there are no issues. He also makes mistakes.

Who was it that hit the wall in Canada while leading? Not Fisi. I'd like to counter with: JV has always been overrated. He won the championship with the best car on the grid, just barely beating Schumacher in a car that shouldn't have even won a single race. I think it shows how good a car is when the champion's rookie teammate wins a race in it (also, Fisi finished 4th in a Jordan in that race). Even though JV had the better car for a good portion of that time.

Addendum: As for Massa, JV struggled at the start of the season, but they are evenly matched now. I think time will prove Massa as one of the fastest drivers in Formula 1. The only downside to this is that JV will be long gone by then, and it probably won't be by choice.

Massa has out-qualified JV 12-5 so far this season. 8-3 since aggregate qualifying was dropped. Massa is ahead on finishes too, finishing ahead of JV 6, and behind 3. And that's when they've both finished, which they almost didn't at Monaco thanks to JV's genius move at Ste. Devote.