Time To Shed Pretender Tag
The Sunday Age
Sunday April 2, 2006
Fernando Alonso is poised to stitch up Jenson Button at Albert Park
JENSON Button has a point to prove at Albert Park today. But I have a feeling that Fernando Alonso and Renault are going to spoil Button's day out in the Australian Grand Prix.Surely it is time for Button to deliver and win his first grand prix. For a guy who is paid a mega-salary, and made a mess of his contract dealings with both Williams and Honda, the least Button can do is rid himself of the tag of being a formula one pretender.In 102 grand prix starts, Button has 13 podiums but zero wins, and pole position for today's race is no guarantee he can finish in front of his Renault rivals.A year ago Giancarlo Fisichella won this race and he has every right to feel that he and Alonso have a chance to deliver a 1-2 for Renault with early-season car speed. Fisi is extremely confident.It will be a tight race, with Button, Fisi and Alonso the top three qualifiers.Lurking behind this trio is Kimi Raikkonen, whose McLaren is looking balanced and sharp and like Alonso, he is a ruthless operator who must be considered a threat in any race. Button won pole in the final frenzy of the new qualifying system that looks calm from the outside but is full of stress for drivers and teams. Now he just has to deliver in the race.The scramble for track position through turns one and two will mean a frantic start. The Renault cars launch fast and smoothly, and both Alonso and Fisi are very bullish about their ability to monster Button for an early advantage.I like their style. Drivers who are prepared to talk up their chances get my vote.For the top four qualifiers, the critical moments will be their speed on the in-out laps either side of pit stops - there are few easy passing places at Albert Park.The performance by Ferrari and Michael Schumacher in qualifying was disappointing. This was not the perfection that we have come to expect from Schuey, whose record I admire.A rain shower caught Schuey short as the pressure mounted for a fast lap. Intensely competitive, he needs to deliver a charging race today, although the Ferraris have had a nagging piston problem that could cut performance.And from seventh on the grid Mark Webber and Williams have some hard work ahead with the Renault, McLaren and Honda cars the pacesetters.Webber is again playing down his chances but there will be a points reward if he makes the most of every move with a committed race plan.Webber's rookie teammate Nico Rosberg also got caught out by the rain and the Williams should have had both cars in the top 10.The unknown factor is the Melbourne weather and further rain will change race strategies. The unpredictability of a wet race could give Webber and Schumacher the chance to spring a surprise.With the new 2.4-litre V8s are buzzing to upwards of 19,000 rpm, Button's pole-position lap, at this early stage of the season, was just 1.1 seconds slower than Fisi in 2005. So much for the attempts of rule makers to cut costs and speeds by throwing out the 3-litre V10s!
© 2006 The Sunday Age