Hamilton, lest we forget, has never been beaten by any of his team-mates, not
even double world champion Fernando Alonso in his rookie season. Having
insisted for months that it did not matter who finished ahead of whom in the
championship, suddenly Button was openly telling us how much it would mean
to him to come out on top of a man whose “den” he was advised against
joining two years ago.
“We all want to beat our team-mate, whatever we say, that is the way it is,”
Button said with a smile. “You have the same equipment. You have to work
with your team-mate or you won’t have a quick enough car to fight the top
guys. But in the car, of course, you want to beat him and it is a real
challenge to beat [Lewis]. He is unbelievably quick.
“But that is the challenge I wanted when I came here. I wanted to find out
where I really stand compared to Lewis.” Where Button stands at the moment
is in a position of some strength.
His run of form since Hungary – six podiums in seven races, including two wins
and three second places – has been unbelievably consistent and even McLaren
team principal Martin Whitmarsh conceded on Sunday night that it must be
contributing to Hamilton’s erratic form.
“If you’re honest the first driver you want to beat is your team-mate,”
Whitmarsh said. “They are there to beat each other and Jenson’s been on a
run. Lewis is under pressure.”
Button, by contrast, is growing in confidence. The 31 year-old would never
admit it but he has probably surprised even himself the way he has subdued
Hamilton this year. He has certainly forced many fans to reappraise his
strengths.
In a sport where perception counts for much, Button appears to have the whole
team pulling for him; the car is attuned to him, the current rules suit him,
he is the one with the long-term contract.
Now, with his 38-point cushion over Hamilton, he is starting to feel
sufficiently confident to flex his muscles.
“Quite a few times this year, especially in the last few races, I have been
the closest guy to Sebastian,” he said. “If you have [a team-mate] like
Lewis who is bloody quick, it means a lot when you can finish in front of
him. He is also a world champion so he is no slouch.“Lately I have had
better races than Lewis but he has had phenomenal races when I have not been
able to touch him. Sometimes you just find yourself in the right place at
the right time and at the moment I find myself, more often than not, in a
great position.
“To finish second in this championship would mean something,” he added. “It
would mean I had beaten not only Lewis but a Red Bull, and Fernando in a
Ferrari.
“I would have beaten three world champions – only Vettel in better car would
have beaten me.
Button has undoubtedly grown as a driver in 2011, universally regarded as a
superior driver even to the one who claimed the world title in 2009.
His move to McLaren, considered a risk at the time, has paid off in spades.
The ultimate challenge, though, still remains, though; to beat an in-form
Hamilton in a battle for the championship. Button is hopeful it could happen
as early as next year.”Two years with a team, with them building the car
around you, is so important,” he said. “I will look at areas I was weak in
and need to improve – qualifying, for instance, which makes it more
difficult for myself on a Sunday.
“But I won’t be the only person in this team fighting for the championship.
Lewis will definitely be there next year, no doubt, and we will have good
fights.
“You will see two Brits fighting it out for the championship.”