Whether or not Jensen si a worthy world champion or not­ is besides the point. If you become world champ you­ double you wages, it happens in almost every sport on­ the face of the earth. The major issue here is that­ Brawn are not exactly a huge, rolling in money team, so­ should be careful about how their money is spent. Not­ only that but Button knows that this is the case, not­ only that but this sport as a whole is on a mission to­ reduce the amount of money they pay. He deserves a pay­ rise but to go from 3/5?? which one is it? i have been­ of the opinion its been 3 all season or have these­ pages been talking wa*nk all year up to 13 when he­ knows about the team and how its running is just a bit­ over zealous. He deserves more money but to get an­ extra 10 is asking a bit much considering everything.

616,

First, I have not said that Jensen is not a­ worthy champion. The fact is he is a champion now and­ nobody can take it away from him. It is a fact­ now.

What I am saying is just mere discussion of­ "what if" and some of the situation­ throughout the season that put him on the road of being­ a champion.

Fact #1: Brawns has been the fastest car­ since their first late test. (Was it end of January or­ early Febuary?) It is widely known that the double­ decker diffuser is one of the main contributors.­ That's why several teams had protested until the­ WMC ruled in legal. As for the reason Toyota and­ Williams hadn't win even with the diffuser. Simple­ reason, they just didn't do a good enough job tot­ he car with respect to Brawns. They were doing fairly­ well against the other teams int he first few­ races.

It is not a surpise that Brawns won a 1-2 in­ Australia.

Fact #2: Jensen did slumber in his­ performance from British GP onwards. I don't know­ why and nobody knows why. Maybe it is his lack of­ consistency. in comparison, Rubens had won couple of­ races and closing his gap.

Fact #3: The other­ teams' cars were catching up in term of­ performance. Most notably Red Bull and Mclaren. Ferrari­ was improving slowly, but decided to give up after­ Hungary. Renault had some decent performance too. Force­ India even later on in the season in Spa. Has Brawns­ run out of money for more development? who knows. But­ try to improve the slight split of a sec is always­ tough.

Fact #4: The 2 Red Bull drivers had not been­ very consistent in their title challenge. They have all­ sort of problems, from drivers' errors, tactical­ errors to engine failures. Therefore, they were not­ able to capitalise on Jensen's below par­ performance and Brawn's diminished performance­ advantage. Base on that sense, Jensen was fortunate­ that he was not penalised by his mysterious poor­ performance.

ferraribeng, Jenson was not fortunate in any way what­ so ever. Fortunate doesn't even come into it. You­ can only beat what is put in front of you, and all­ drivers have tried their best this year and he has won­ the title. There is no logical way on earth you can­ say "well he deserves it less than *someone else*­ because he didn't perform". Thats c**p­ because if he didn't deserve to win it, he­ wouldn't have won it. And don't even go on­ about the "double diffuser" being the­ difference. What about Toyota and Williams? They had­ them as well, so why didn't they win any of those­ opening races if that single component was the big­ difference? And what about Red Bull with their unique­ rear suspension that is hugely beneficial to the way­ the car drives under these new rules? I don't see­ you or anyone else saying that gave them an unfair­ advantage.

As for wins in the second half of the­ season, did you not read the stats correctly? Do you­ know nothing of past years? Alonso only won one race­ in the second half of 2006, and that was round 17. So­ if Jenson were to win next weekend then he had the same­ second half to a season as Alonso did. So why oh why­ oh why is his crown less deserving?

I agree to a certain extent. Button is a fine driver,­ but I would not rate him with the likes of Hamilton,­ Alonso, Vettel, or maybe even Raikonnen. This of­ course is just my opinion.

#24: Donald D,

First, I want to reassure that I­ believe that all the F1 drivers are very talented­ drivers. (Maybe with exception of 1 or 2) They all­ deserves their places on the grid. I don't doubt­ that all at.

My argument is based on being the best of­ the best. I just do not believe that Jensen and Rubens­ are the best of the best. I just don't believe that­ they are champion material. Of course I have been­ proven wrong since Jensen is now the champion.

In­ comparison of Jensena and Hamilton, Hamilton has­ respectfully won 2 races with a car which is basically­ not a championship winning car. Even Kimi managed to­ win 1 race in Spa with a under developed car. I have my­ doubt about Jensen doing the same.

I agree with you­ and I admit that I am sort of bias because of my­ perception of Button. Nothing against him as a person.­ Just that I see him as a driver who only performs with­ a good car. All his career since 2000 has been like­ this.

With the best cars, Schumi dorminate until­ everyone says F1 is boring. Alonso won his 2 titles­ without having the fastest car on the grid.

#21: SixOneSix,
I understand what you are trying to say­ based on the statistic you are trying to present. With­ the number of wins he gets in a season, he is a worthy­ champions just like the others.

You have omitted the­ fact that all his 6 wins is from the first 7 races.­ With 10 more races to go, it would be fair enough to­ expect him to win another 3 to 5 races. He didn't­ and in fact performed very unimpressively for too many­ races in the last 10. Had Vettel not suffered the­ unusual high number of engine failures, he would have­ certainly take the title race to Abu Dhabi. Had Mclaren­ been competitive from race 1, I doubt Jensen will have­ any chance against Hamilton.

All the champions that­ you have listed, none of them won all their races in­ the first half of the season and none in the 2nd half.­ They are the mark of being a competitive drivers­ consistently throughout the season. The statistic of­ this season did not suggest that Button is consistent.­ Haven't most of us said that the championship is­ for him to lose?

Yes, it is true. Yet it is also a­ championship that Vettel and Webber were unable to­ capatalise on the poor performance of the Brawns­ drivers. So, in that sense, Jensen was fortunate that­ he was not heavily penalised for his 2nd half below­ average performance that would expect of a champion.

I think it might be a good move on Buttons part to move­ to Mclaren! (perasonally, I think it is posturing on­ J's part!), Mclaren has had a terrible year, but in­ the last couple of races, they seem to be getting­ 'their act together'! They MIGHT be the­ 'car' to beat next year. Brawn have lost the­ advantage they had on everybody else, now everybody is­ catching up to them! So if Ross won't re-sign­ Button 'PDQ', he should think of a­ switch!
Barry-Toronto

how many races will Brawn win in the coming year?
Brawn­ will struggle as all the manufacturers will have caught­ up to, and some even surpassing the Brawn team.
Why pay­ the top money when the team will no doubt struggle, as­ they did at the end of this season.

Bernie has always had a problem with opening his mouth­ at inopertune times with words that do nothing to­ resolve the situation at hand. I agree with #6 and­ several other posts. Brawn do seem to be a bit­ arrogant and unwilling to honor the sacrifices made by­ Jenson in terms of his compensation. What I find­ difficult to understand is that with the modification­ of his compensation contract, why there weren't any­ new terms specifically addressing his future­ compensation when Brawn were more settled­ financially.

Now that Mercedes have announced, why­ don't they pitch in and sign Button to a personal­ services contract designed to make up the outstanding­ difference. Ross and Nick must resolve this problem as­ soon as possible unless they really have no intention­ of doing the honorable thing.

It is remarkable that this is even being disputed. I­ totally agree with six Jenson took the pain of slashing­ his pay, forking out for his own travel and even­ cleaning bills, in a sport that generates millions for­ the teams surely by taking the crown he should at least­ be entitled to his reward.

S #6 that's exactly it. And right on jangor #10. He­ loves to read his quotes in the papers. I only hope he­ reads these lovely posts. I guess Bernie thinks Ross­ has never been in F1 before becoming a team principal.­ He only concerns himself with those who give him money,­ so if they have a lesser job they don't exist. For­ crying out loud man, just get out already. Someone­ please please heave those eggs. I'll gladly cover­ the fines.

Don't you folks understand Bernie thinks he's­ God Almighty in all things associated with F1. !! The­ old Bar-steward just can't help sticking his nose­ in. However, on this one he is so right. Jenson's­ deal should have been well sorted out by now. Ross and­ co consider yourselves b.o.l.l.o.c.k.e.d.

ferraribeng

Assuming you are right - that must make­ Rubens a pretty poor driver, as he was soundly beaten­ in those first races while driving an identical car. ­ Secondly, what about the other cars with the double­ diffuser?

You are beginning to sound a bit biased.

Brad totally agree, would be good to see Button at­ Mclaren, alongside Hamilton and watch Button ride­ shotgun for Hamilton, with Riakkonen and Barrichello­ driving another championship winning car.

englishman.....bernie wouldn't do well under the­ brick......have you ever picked up a brick that has­ been laying there for a few years ???
lots of wierd­ inscects and even snakes......hmmmm....maybe you have­ something there englishman......

ferraribeng, you really are a perpetual motion machine­ of ongoing increduality aren't you.

2009: Jenson­ Button has been crowned World Champion after winning 6­ out of the 16 races so far
2008: Lewis Hamilton is­ crowned Champion having won 5 races from 18 (Felipe­ Massa won 6)
2007: Kimi Raikkonen won 6 out of 17 to be­ champion
2006: Fernando Alonso won 7 out of 18 (and­ only 1 race in the second half of the season)
2005:­ Fernando won 7 out of 19 (as did Kimi in second)

In­ direct comparison to this point of the 2009 season, how­ does he compare?
2009: Jenson has won 6 from 16 so far­ (just to remind you)
2008: Lewis had won 4 of the first­ 16 (Felipe had 5)
2007: Kimi had won 5 of the first 16­ races that season
2006: Fernando won 6 of the first­ 16
2005: Fernando won 6 of the first 16 (as did Kimi in­ second)

I don't see how you can then claim he is­ less deserving than those that came before him? None­ of the last 5 championships have been won by someone­ with more than 6 wins from the first 16 races, so at­ this point he is as equally deserving as any of­ them.

But why let the truth ruin your bigotry.

When was the last time a driver won the title not­ having the best or co-best car? It usually is the­ case. You have to give Jenson credit for the first­ half of the season with those 6 wins because you still­ have to keep the car on the track. I don`t think the­ diffuser really did much at Monaco and that was a­ brillient drive. Remember RB had the same car during­ those first 7 races too. How many wins did he have at­ that point? I think Jenson got a bit tentative after­ finding himself in such a strong position and with the­ press all but saying he had it all wrapped up he got a­ bit spooked. Who wouldn`t being in his position? ­ Being in the sport for 9 years mostly driving crappy­ cars with the occasional so so car makes it hard to­ keep fighting losing battles. To be in a position to­ be F1 World Champion all of a sudden is quite daunting.­ A year earlier he was almost unemployed. Remember,­ Alonso, Kimi, Lewis have all had good cars early on and­ it`s easier to develop and keep that all so important­ self confidence. They have no idea what it`s like to­ drive for SO MANY years in mostly junk. During all of ­ those 9 years NOT ONE time did any of Jenson`s­ teamates win races either. Button haters might have a­ point if this were the case. He had some good­ teamates too including Trulli, Fisichela, R Shumacher.­ The bottom line is he should get a World Champions wage­ because he is the champ. It always takes a good car to­ win and finally he has one so good for him. There­ isn`t a cleaner driver on the circuit who makes less­ mistakes. He is in the top 5 for quickness in my­ opinion and almost always brings the car home in one­ piece. Besides, there are always 3-5 guys that could­ win in any car doing the current winning if they were­ in that car themselves. It`s the nature of the sport.

If he is so magnanimous, why doesn't he (Bernie)­ simply pay Button's salary.
In this case, everyone­ would be happy:
- Button, because he's keeping his­ seat in his beloved team;
- Mr Brawn, happy to spare­ some money and keep his champion.
- The F1 fans,­ surprised to discover that the dwarf can be­ generous.

Can someone really imagine Bernie doing­ this? Even in my dreams, no.

When was the last time a driver won the title not­ having the best or co-best car? It usually is the­ case. You have to give Jenson credit for the first­ half of the season with those 6 wins because you still­ have to keep the car on the track. I don`t think the­ diffuser really did much at Monaco and that was a­ brillient drive. Remember RB had the same car during­ those first 7 races too. How many wins did he have at­ that point? I think Jenson got a bit tentative after­ finding himself in such a strong position and with the­ press all but saying he had it all wrapped up he got a­ bit spooked. Who wouldn`t being in his position? ­ Being in the sport for 9 years mostly driving crappy­ cars with the occasional so so car makes it hard to­ keep fighting losing battles. To be in a position to­ be F1 World Champion all of a sudden is quite daunting.­ Remember, Alonso, Kimi, Lewis have all had good cars­ early on and it`s easier to develop that all so­ important confidence. They have no idea what it`s like­ to drive for so many years in mostly junk. During all­ of 9 those years NOT ONE time did any of Jenson`s­ teamates win races either. Button haters might have a­ point if this were the case.

Why must short arse always have to have his say? What­ an obnoxious little turd he is.