Can Anyone Help Jenson?

[Rainmaster 7]

He complains a lot but that is nothing unusual; I don't think he's struggling that much, to be honest (only 8pts from Hamilton who's driving well). Hardly Massa territory. Let's see how he goes in Monaco.

Edit: It took me two edits to work out the difference between JB & LH's points tallies, 45 and 53. First I thought it was 12, then 13. It's time to go to bed.

[Quiet One 15]

I think most here are missing the point Sean was trying to address. He wwas not talking about Jenson's score, Jenson vs LH, whether you are confident or not in his skills or if he can become the next WDC in an HRT while singing his favorite bits from "The Sounds of Music".

Sean mentioned Jenson's unhappy mood, which is notable in a driver who is notable for being everything but.

[dribbler 6]

I think most here are missing the point Sean was trying to address. He wwas not talking about Jenson's score, Jenson vs LH, whether you are confident or not in his skills or if he can become the next WDC in an HRT while singing his favorite bits from "The Sounds of Music".

Sean mentioned Jenson's unhappy mood, which is notable in a driver who is notable for being everything but.

How dare you insinuate we are missing the point; I can't believe you think Jenson could be champion in an HRT.....

Jenson just needs a damned good meal.That'll put a smile on his face. He is looking more gaunt than Mark 'skull head' Webber.

[Quiet One 15]

How dare you insinuate we are missing the point; I can't believe you think Jenson could be champion in an HRT.....

Jenson just needs a damned good meal.That'll put a smile on his face. He is looking more gaunt than Mark 'skull head' Webber.

Your fatherly instincts are ruining your tough guy's reputation, Steve.

[Rainmaster 7]

I didn't miss the point I just ignored it because I don't agree that Jenson seems that unhappy. This smells of the whole "Vettel cannot handle not having the best car" idea that was knocking around after a few races, now forgotten. But maybe I just haven't noticed for some reason. Anyway, I think JB will be fine.

[Quiet One 15]

Apparently the team is trying to halve Lewis' salary. I'd say that would help Jenson

Coming next: Lewis to Ferrari? Lewis to Merc? Lewis to RBR? Lewis to the Bolshoi Ballet? Lewis to KFC?

[Quiet One 15]

Apparently the team is trying to halve Lewis' salary. I'd say that would help Jenson

Coming next: Lewis to Ferrari? Lewis to Merc? Lewis to RBR? Lewis to the Bolshoi Ballet? Lewis to KFC?

Scrap that. Now they say they will offer him 20M a year, more than his current 15M. I'd say stay there, Lewis. There's no place like home.

[HandyNZL 1]

Just shows how accurate the media is. Just watch the races and ignore the fluff is what I say

[dribbler 6]

Just watch the races and ignore the fluff is what I say

Do the same with F1 forums too, is what I say.

[LabradoRacer 2]

Jenson's criticism of Kova seems odd, to say the least. What was Kova supposed to do, bend over? Perhaps the recent run of bad luck & unpredictable tyres are getting to Jenson.

[Quiet One 15]

Jenson's criticism of Kova seems odd, to say the least. What was Kova supposed to do, bend over? Perhaps the recent run of bad luck & unpredictable tyres are getting to Jenson.

This season is going to be a test on how to handle frustration for many drivers.

Vettel: no bulletproof car anymore. Time to learn how to make the most of what you have around. He seems to be handling himself rather well, although happy he is clearly not.

Alonso: on top of the world, but knowing that this is a very fragile situation. He seems to be realistic so far. He is usually good at this (although he is bad at handling frustration on the track). Most probable scenarios still do not contemplate Alonso WDC.

Hamilton; theoretically, best car driver around. In practice...no results. He was handling himself surprisingly well until the debris comments made me doubt about his mental health

Kimi: unreadable, as usual. Is he really that disappointed? The car's performance is still an enigma, but seems to be either a brick or a winner. Hard to cope with that.

Schumi/Massa: obvious reasons.

Button: the most affected of the top drivers/candidates, paradoxically for the one we expected to handle this better than anyone else except the Iceman. Maybe his car is really that bad, but I can't help thinking that much like in Massa vs Alonso case, it is more a question of his loss of confidence in the car or himself than the actual set of external circumstances that hindered him, which admittedly are many.

[LabradoRacer 2]

Hamilton; theoretically, best car driver around. In practice...no results. He was handling himself surprisingly well until the debris comments made me doubt about his mental health

Looie again blasted Macca for a "poor" pitstop, prompting a strong defence from Whitmarsh. Wonder how things will pan out here.

[Massa 0]

Button's like most of them. You love him when he's winning, you hate him when he's losing. Some call it whining (when it's a driver they don't like), some call it being ultra competitive (when it's a driver they do like).

F1's just high-strung. It's the nature of the paddock, it's how European racing really is (and I don't mean that as a negative thing at all), it's just so competitive and while I don't like most drivers' attitudes, I understand why it's like that. There's so much pressure and these guys are inflated so much on their rise to the top (F1) as the next so-and-so and a future whatever-it-is and all this stuff and when you don't do that you feel like you're letting people down. Not everyone's prepared to take it, and not everyone's going to like it (I don't ), but it makes sense.

SparkNotes: Button's an F1 driver and he wants to win and he's supposed to win and he isn't winning.

[Quiet One 15]

Looie again blasted Macca for a "poor" pitstop, prompting a strong defence from Whitmarsh. Wonder how things will pan out here.

I missed those comments although they are the usual from Lewis in the past years. Of all the mentioned, he is the most prone to vent his frustration (or, at least, the most quoted). Alonso is the usual suspect of this kind of behavior but when the time comes, they usually resort to some of his comments in 2007 or one or two comments made in his Renault revival afterwards.

What seems to have changed in Lewis is not the fact that he is very vocal in his frustration (the toys/pram connundrum, when referred to ALO ) but that he can anyways remain focused on race day.

Button seems to have lost that focus. His banzai move against Kovy was an act of unexpected exasperation from him. Yes, you can say "his race was ruined anyways, he had nothing to lose, kudos for trying" or something like that and you would be right. But it will still be out of character coming from Button.

I insist: Button needs to find his mojo. Bad luck is bad luck. Mess ups from the team are not his fault, but he needs to be in top mental form to make the most of every tiny bit of opportunity window he gets. This season that is cardinal, see (who else?) Alonso or Vettel for details. This season is all about the details.

[Insider 0]

I think the key to the whole problem at McLaren is not the drivers or the anomalies of the tyres - it's Whitmarsh and his inability to motivate the crew. Of late, their pit stops are a shambles, race strategy has gone to hell and both drivers are suffering for it. Some may say Jenson's problems are of his own making - he's just too fussy and unwilling to compromise with his set up. I don't believe that is true. When the team is performing badly in the garage and on the pit wall, the drivers are bound to be de-motivated. Normally, the main difference on set-up is that Lewis's style, [sliding tail] gets the boots warm faster than Jenson's slidy front racing style. However, a few turns of wing and a gurney flap or three and both should be race worthy with JB's oily-smooth style giving him the advantage on tyre wear. With this year's tyres, everyone in the pit lane is making huge adjustments to their cars - rear axle, torsion bars, front suspension etc, etc - the like of which I have never seen before. Few, if any are as tecnically-minded as Jens. It's an area of late development for him but he has become obsessed with it and consequently far more vociferous than he might of been in the past. That McLaren can't fix the problem is obvious in that no one in the team is getting to grips with the tyres and more importantly, never will. They are designed to be a complete mystery. Pirelli know how they should operate but can only supply partial data. The teams are the guinea pigs. It isn't racing anymore - it's motorised burlesque and it is devaluing the sport, the teams and driver's in it's wake. That is the real opinion I found amongst the faithful at the weekend. Bringing excitement to the fore is one thing, making great drivers look impotent is another. There needs to be a re-balancing.

Also, the pit lane was awash with rumours that Hamilton was off to RBR. Horner doesn't want the potential man management problems on his plate but Mateschitz sees the pairing as a huge commercial coup that will draw millions of dollars into the team. Ted has the last word - always. The main fly in the ointment is Marko. He knows Lewis is a match and more for his 'baby', Vettel and defeat at Lewis's hand will not go down well. Lewis is not particularly fond of Marko and sparks may fly. It won't be the end of the world for Macca is he does go but it should be for the right reasons not because his team has become sloppy. Personally, I can see Ron Dennis getting involved. The driver's are suffering and discontent, mainly because of a poor team performance and if anything is to be salvaged from this season that has to stop - now!

[dribbler 6]

Interesting. But until I hear more first hand that Whitmarsh is incapable of motivating personnel, I'm going with the theory that Lewis needs to keep doing what he's doing and Button needs to get on top of the tyre situation through scientific analysis.

Or maybe its Jenson''s turn this year to go all soppy; to need loving and have an arm around him. Let's face it, their lives suck.

And I wouldn't be so sure about Lewis being better than Seb in equal machines. It would be close. Lewis is quick but fragile. Seb' is becoming the completist more an more, race by race. Handling a situation like this year and still being at the front with the other guy who is a brilliant all rounder, Fernando, is real character building stuff.

By year end, Seb will be even more mature beyond his years. If Lewis makes the switch, it will take him a year to settle in and get used to his mug adorning the covers of magazines in different colour overalls.

As for all the moaning about tyres and this "we can only drive at 80%" rubbish, it's almost like they are disappointed that they can't all now get their d#cks out and wave them around as much as they used to. Boys; you need to pace yourselves. It's the same for all of you. Get used to it. Be intelligent.

Shut up and drive.

[HandyNZL 1]

I'm inclined to sit with Steve on this one Sean. So it's two against one and we will be watching When Harry Met Sally afterall, and no amount of complaints by you shall be entered into...you're out voted

But yeah, nah....Mat Coch sums it up for me: http://pitpass.com/46346-Be-Careful-What-You-Wish-For

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Interesting. But until I hear more first hand that Whitmarsh is incapable of motivating personnel, I'm going with the theory that Lewis needs to keep doing what he's doing and Button needs to get on top of the tyre situation through scientific analysis.

Or maybe its Jenson''s turn this year to go all soppy; to need loving and have an arm around him. Let's face it, their lives suck.

And I wouldn't be so sure about Lewis being better than Seb in equal machines. It would be close. Lewis is quick but fragile. Seb' is becoming the completist more an more, race by race. Handling a situation like this year and still being at the front with the other guy who is a brilliant all rounder, Fernando, is real character building stuff.

By year end, Seb will be even more mature beyond his years. If Lewis makes the switch, it will take him a year to settle in and get used to his mug adorning the covers of magazines in different colour overalls.

As for all the moaning about tyres and this "we can only drive at 80%" rubbish, it's almost like they are disappointed that they can't all now get their d#cks out and wave them around as much as they used to. Boys; you need to pace yourselves. It's the same for all of you. Get used to it. Be intelligent.

Shut up and drive.

You're on a roll Bikerboy!!!

Lovely stuff!!

[Quiet One 15]

Yup, Steve got it right.

But I do agree with Sean that Whitmarsh seems to be unable to inspire much life into a team that is not being beaten by any other team but by their own shadows. They look pretty much like Ferrari, actually. But, unlike the Italians, they have a great car since the beginniing, they do not have any serious mechanical failures or design dead ends. All they have is a couple of very p**sed off former WDC winners considered among the top of the top, a bunch of pitstop mishaps and strategy bad calls. All down to human errors. They do not need to scrap this year's car to change that!

Ferrari seems to have passed the worst of their own crisis for now. Although I would not recommend Macca looking at the Red Team for a solution as basically all they did was firing everybody at hand and hire everybody that wasn't just fired as some sort of sacrificial frenzy and then close their eyes and hope for Alonso doing something. (In all fairness they did more than that, but you get the idea)

[Insider 0]

Interesting. But until I hear more first hand that Whitmarsh is incapable of motivating personnel, I'm going with the theory that Lewis needs to keep doing what he's doing and Button needs to get on top of the tyre situation through scientific analysis.

Or maybe its Jenson''s turn this year to go all soppy; to need loving and have an arm around him. Let's face it, their lives suck.

And I wouldn't be so sure about Lewis being better than Seb in equal machines. It would be close. Lewis is quick but fragile. Seb' is becoming the completist more an more, race by race. Handling a situation like this year and still being at the front with the other guy who is a brilliant all rounder, Fernando, is real character building stuff.

By year end, Seb will be even more mature beyond his years. If Lewis makes the switch, it will take him a year to settle in and get used to his mug adorning the covers of magazines in different colour overalls.

As for all the moaning about tyres and this "we can only drive at 80%" rubbish, it's almost like they are disappointed that they can't all now get their d#cks out and wave them around as much as they used to. Boys; you need to pace yourselves. It's the same for all of you. Get used to it. Be intelligent.

Shut up and drive.

Jenson isn't a scientist and the data is clearly not stable enough for those whose job it is at McLaren to recommend the right thing. In fact, none of the teams have grasped it. As I said, they are probably not meant to and perhaps never will. If Newey can't get his head around it, who can?

I see it like a new rule where you have to make the car go round on three wheels but they all have to be situated on the four corners of the car. I want these guys to drive these beasts to breaking point. What's the point to do otherwise?

The main problem to my mind is race mileage on practice days. Teams are doing just over half the miles they were last year. They spend more time in the garage dealing with the driver's knee-jerk reactions to the cars' drivability after a handful of laps than to driving the tyres to destruction and gathering the vital data they need.

You seem to be emphatic that SV will mature beyond his years by the year end. That's some kind of call, Steve I have to say. He was pouting like a three-year old after TP1 on Thursday.

Alonso is the form driver right now and looks like a triple WDC to me, no doubt about it. Kimi is fast but I don't think he cares enough to make a big challenge. Lewis is in a slow car and until that changes, he won't make the top step. He could win it with consistent podiums and I think that's most driver's best shot.

In my opinion, the only thing operating at 80% at the moment is F1.

[dribbler 6]

Jenson isn't a scientist and the data is clearly not stable enough for those whose job it is at McLaren to recommend the right thing. In fact, none of the teams have grasped it. As I said, they are probably not meant to and perhaps never will. If Newey can't get his head around it, who can?

I see it like a new rule where you have to make the car go round on three wheels but they all have to be situated on the four corners of the car. I want these guys to drive these beasts to breaking point. What's the point to do otherwise?

The main problem to my mind is race mileage on practice days. Teams are doing just over half the miles they were last year. They spend more time in the garage dealing with the driver's knee-jerk reactions to the cars' drivability after a handful of laps than to driving the tyres to destruction and gathering the vital data they need.

You seem to be emphatic that SV will mature beyond his years by the year end. That's some kind of call, Steve I have to say. He was pouting like a three-year old after TP1 on Thursday.

Alonso is the form driver right now and looks like a triple WDC to me, no doubt about it. Kimi is fast but I don't think he cares enough to make a big challenge. Lewis is in a slow car and until that changes, he won't make the top step. He could win it with consistent podiums and I think that's most driver's best shot.

In my opinion, the only thing operating at 80% at the moment is F1.

Commenting on the bold, I don't much care what Sebastian's facial expression says. In fact the more miserable he looks, the more I know he cares. My reference to maturity was regarding the bit that matters; his driving. I totally agree with your comments about Alonso. He looks mighty right now.

I wonder how many drivers and indeed fans would be complaining about the current health of F1 right now, if this were its very first year. I rather think we may conclude this F1 lark is exciting, innovative, cutting ege, sexy and glamorous. In my opinion, we must stop thinking that we are being cheated or that the sport has been dumbed down. Tyre management has existed for decades.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

You seem to be emphatic that SV will mature beyond his years by the year end. That's some kind of call, Steve I have to say. He was pouting like a three-year old after TP1 on Thursday.

If SV were'nt pouting like a kid at TP1, I would be seriously concerned. In his first championship year, after the being labelled a crash kid he showed the meaning of maturity, and getting his head down to do the business. I think what Steve is refering to is his position in a car that's not the best out there at the moment, and he will become even better!!! There was doubts about his racing abilty and racecraft during races, I don't hear them anymore. His already ticked thatbox. if he wins this years championship, all this pouting at free practise's will be forgotten, it's the race that matters

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Commenting on the bold, I don't much care what Sebastian's facial expression says. In fact the more miserable he looks, the more I know he cares. My reference to maturity was regarding the bit that matters; his driving. I totally agree with your comments about Alonso. He looks mighty right now.

Was not my intention to repeat, I just had the window open and had to do some swift work before I could post

[Gilles V. 0]

Jenson has got to perform this time around, otherwise it will start to ressemble Ferrari, where, in the same car, you find a driver at the front and another far behind in almost every race. That would be third time in Montreal, so we can already discount the track excuse.

[AleHop 0]

@Crucial_Xtreme: #F1 AutoSport Magazine says McLaren has "Electronic Trickery" on both cars that could be hindering car set up --> http://t.co/KENPROSu