NewsOnF1 - The future is Bright, the future is Button

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Dear Heretic,

It would certainly not surprise me if one Williams driver jumped up on the podium again on Sunday (reference Issue 28 - Podium for Ralf ?). Both are very good young drivers with loads of ambition. However they are very different drivers in my view and therefore the type of track is all important.

Here's my take:

Ralf is a hard-out driver. Heavy on the throttle and very heavy on the brakes. Circuits like Monza will suit him down to the ground with a few heavy braking chicanes and aggression the key to good lap times, he's also excellent over the curbs. Yet he's not so good when it gets a bit technical and Tricky and that's where Jenson comes into his own.

Button has amazed both Frank Williams and Patrick Head with his corner speed. Apparently the telemetry shows a huge difference between the two. Ralf coming in very fast and hard on the brakes and then bang on the throttle but Jenson apparently has the Senna skill of carrying speed in the corners with supreme control and minute and throttle adjustments every second. This was shown by his incredible qualifying performance at SPA (bear in mind that Ralf had THE qualifying engine) and confirmed when he was .002 slower than Schummi Senior in the pissing rain of Sunday morning.

In short the future is Bright and the future is Button.

What he lacks is the experience in a hectic start line situation and that's where Ralf will capitalise Sunday. The Circuit suits him and he will take it to the Macs and his brother early on and will probably grind out a Podium as he did so well last year.

If Jenson can master the brakes as well as Ralf this weekend it could be another story, but I don't think it will. Did you see the article in Autosport about Jenson missing the Turn in to La Source twice in Friday Practice? Well after the Mechanics had given him a load of stick Jenson stood up and said that the Hundred board is in the wrong place!

"I know I can stop this car in 70m from 300kph, and that board is in the wrong place."

A quick check with Charlie Whiting and the Stewards confirmed this!!!!! And it was moved.

Did Schummi or Hakkinen notice that?

I rest my case.

Ralf for this race but Button will take him out in the rest of the season.

Dom - England

The Heretic replies:

Jenson must have natural skill to be as fast as he is at his age. If nothing else, we must assume that he also has a lot more potential to develop.

Given the right car he could continue to get the reinforcement of being in the points and even on the podium which is the best experience any driver can get. Apart from being a lot more enjoyable, it is only when you run in the points that mistakes or successes matter and when it matters you learn fast.

Benetton will probably not be competitive for at least one season and looking at the competition may not be competitive for a very long time.

Although I agree with you, Button may find himself in a car that cannot reflect his ability and if that happens I hope that he will have the maturity to not let it get to him.

The Heretic