The Button-Hamilton dynamic has often been compared to that of the tortoise
and the hare. And while it is grossly unfair to call Button — probably the
quickest driver in changeable conditions — a ‘tortoise’, the analogy is not
totally without merit.
No one would seriously argue that Hamilton is not frighteningly quick in
almost any conditions and in any car; his qualifying record against Button
bears testament to that.
But driving is about more than just speed and, as three-time world champion
Niki Lauda amongst others noted recently, Hamilton could learn a thing or
two from his elder team-mate in terms of finishing races and thinking on
track.
The 26 year-old himself conceded that fact yesterday, saying that he “needed
to improve” and acknowledging that it was a source of real pride to him that
he should beat his team-mate.
“It is definitely part of the equation,” Hamilton said. “Everyone compares you
to your team-mate.
“Jenson is doing a great job this year but the plan is to finish ahead of
him. If I don’t then he has done a better job than me and it means I need to
improve for next year. We’ll see what happens.”
Asked whether he felt he was the finished article, Hamilton was blunt.
“Not at all,” he said. “I’ve always said I can improve. I don’t have an excuse
or an answer about why we have been in the position we have been in. We have
had a few more bad days in the office than we have had good days this year.
“What I want to work on is doing it even when everything is not perfect. When
I’m winning it’s a birdie or an eagle. But when things aren’t at their best
I want a par.”
He had better not make it a hat-trick of crashes at Monza on Sunday then. How
is his golf by the way? “Pretty good,” he smiled. “I’m playing off 17.”