http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=44638 Jenson Button says the new generation Formula 1 cars tried out at Barcelona this week are much more enjoyable to drive than their predecessors. The 2009 cars have less aerodynamic downforce but, thanks to the return of slick tyres, more mechanical grip a combination Button feels plays to his strengths. It's nice to be back in a car that I enjoy driving, he said after two days at the wheel of an RA108 modified to simulate next years rules. Taking a lot of the downforce off and running on slick tyres suits my driving style a lot more than grooved tyres. Ive had a fun couple of days and it's been very useful as we have tested many things which should help us with the new car. After two disastrous years with uncompetitive machinery, Button is pinning his hopes on the new Honda being a dramatic improvement. The 28-year-old says the initial signs are encouraging. It's been a positive start to 2009 already and I'm very pleased, he said. I've just got to keep pushing the team hard now to get the improvements that we are hoping to achieve for next year. Go Button!
Maybe he meant "slick suits are my style", because when it comes to race lap times, he's fashionably late.
the car looked pretty quick out there last week. Both honda's where slow through the last sector but they where off power much longer than any of the other cars through the last chicane (beautiful sound on the overrun). only the honda's where to do that in the chicane. the rest where flying through there...
Last years car, "modified to simulate the 2009 rules". Most likely they just ran it with very little downforce, but it's still the 09 car with slicks and not a lotta wing.
I'm assuming it's the angle of the photo, but it looks like the car has an unusual amount of toe-in. Look at the RF compared to the LF.
The trouble is I think they might suit other drivers even more. The grooved tyres were good for people like Jenson with a very smooth style. Aggressive guys like Kimi and Fernando should be able to attack harder with more mechanical grip. However with that comes a quicker transition from grip to slip so Jenson might still be good. I am quite a fan of Jenson, somewhat in the minority these days!
At least he finally found something that does. For the better part of a decade, nothing has suited his style...
E v e r y F r e a k i n g Year, we hear Jensen Button make some dumb comment that "___________ suits my style" and next year I will be in the championship hunt. The only hunt Jens will be in is the annual easter egg hunt at a nearby school. Will he please just shut up!
Yeah slicks are better for grip but also produce more marbles which hampers passing and makes the track strictly one lane much faster than grooved tires.
1 win (gifted) in 153 starts. 3 poles in 153 starts. He's neither fast nor hungry nor consistent nor worthy of a seat in F1. He's among the top five of Who Isn't, Never Has Been and Never Will Be. Let him go join JV and Jos on the roster of never could have beens. Waste of a seat at any team.
That's a bit unfair, I watched the race last night. He charged up through the field in the opening laps, from 13th or something. Raikkonen crashed into a back marker and it became all about him and Alonso. Alonso was 1st Button was a very close second 1 second difference, then Button pitted. He charged after Alonso and was catching him every lap, then Alonso pitted, had some sort of mechanical problem and retired. The point is, that race Button had the speed to beat Alonso. It wasn't gifted to him, the way this years Hungarian GP was gifted to Kovalainen.
+1 He appears lame, demotivated and uncompetitive. Seems like he's happy trudging along for a few more years while earning a few million more $ and living the jet set life. He's not hungry for victory. I bet if they offered him a seat on Mc Laren or Ferrari in exchange for no pay, he would refuse. He's a waste of space. He should leave his precious F1 seat to younger more motivated drivers.
