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Button to beat Hamilton - Moss
ESPNF1 Staff
February 20, 2012
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Jenson Button finished 43 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton in 2011 © Getty Images
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Sir Stirling Moss has backed Jenson Button to get the better of Lewis Hamilton in the intra-team battle at McLaren once again this season.
2011 was the first time in his Formula One career that Hamilton had been beaten by his team-mate across a whole season as Button finished as runner-up to Sebastian Vettel. When asked for his opinions on who would come out on top between the two McLaren drivers this season, Moss said that he expected Button's experience would see him prevail once again.
"Well Lewis does funny things doesn't he, so one can't be sure," Moss said. "I think that I would put my money actually on Jenson. Yes I would. I think that Lewis is terrific, he really is exceptionally quick but I think that Jenson will think about certain things better than he does; when to go in for a change of tyres when it's raining or whether not to, all of those sorts of things. I think he's got a better understanding of it. I think experience is a lot of it, an awful lot of it."
When it was put to Moss that Hamilton's qualifying record shows he has the raw speed, he agreed that the pace was clearly evident but said that he's not 100% immersed in his driving.
"Oh he does, no doubt about it, but then he goes off and screws it up sometimes doesn't he? That's the problem. I think that Jenson is much more dedicated; I don't mean in any way other than it means more to him what he's actually doing, the actual driving and so on."
Moss still believes both drivers will find it difficult to beat Vettel though, likening the double world champion to "a modern Fangio".
"Vettel is quite outstanding, but then he has got the best car, which is fair enough because normally the best driver gets the best car. Fangio would go round and pick what he wanted and one took whatever was left, and it's essentially the same now. Where we're lucky though is that Vettel has a great sense of humour ... and he's a damn good world champion really.
"I think Vettel is outstanding, I think they (Button and Hamilton) are up there but not quite as far as he is ... Vettel is a modern Fangio really in Formula One. One doesn't know other than his natural ability how he is that good, how he can be that good really."
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ESPN Staff
I have my fingers crossed for ferrari....... if this car works..... Alonso will beat vettel hands down..... which was evident last year at silverstone...... vettel wasnt able to see the exhaust of alonso's car lol..... Vettel is talented no doubts..... but not to forget he has had the best car since last 2 seasons.... the real challange will come when others also have a competitive car.........
Posted byis Easy to say the worst of Lewis and his performace in 2011 but look the big picture, Who can the best of the car in worse conditions? who can beat anyone if they let him drive? who can make a pass and pass thru anyone and any spaces with out touching a car? obviuosly EVERYONE makes Mistakes and everyone HAS teh right to be down for any reason he had on his personal life. But I hope he come back Better the he ever was!!
Posted byLewis is like Jacques Villeneuve... world champ in second year but soon enough beaten by 'no. 2' Jenson Button.
Posted bywait for alonso..let him get atleast better car than what he got last year..he will show vettel his way..In my opinion Hamilton will beat his teammate this time..last year was unfortunate where lewis did many mistakes then too he finished decently in tally..look at massa where he finished...this time it wont happen that way again..cant wait to see start of the season..
Posted byI don't think so. As much as I like Button, Hamilton will show his class this season. It will be different for him this year.
Posted byIt doesnt matter if Jenson knows when to put wets on Lewis is still miles faster on them. He caught Jenson up at Canada last year like Jenson was in an HRT and obviously would have won had his team mate not put him in the wall. There is no way Jenson is going to beat Lewis this year, 2011 was an exceptional circumstance.
Posted bywould love to see Hamilton challenge Vettel this year and be the number 1 again in McLaren. he's the only one with the real chance of beating Vettel!