F1 Betting: Inside the all British, all Champion battle at McLaren

Formula One / David Croft / 05 February 2010 / 1 Comments

Shoulder to shoulder... Button and Hamilton

"If preparation is the key to success - Alexander Graham Bell’s words not mine - then Mclaren have the upper hand already."

After two interesting days in a week, David Croft needs to slow down. Unlike the McLaren team, who are revving up for the F1 season with big expectations of their star drivers and new car.

I spent a very interesting day in Leighton Buzzard this week - not something I'd often say, but I was in the company of the Virgin Racing team as they launched their new car for 2010.

The VR-01 is, a simple and neat affair, with a standout black and red colour scheme, is the first all digital F1 car to hit the track. The team have abandoned the tried and tested methods for designing an F1 car and abandoned wind tunnels in favour of CFD, which if I had the time I'd explain, but believe me it would take a while.

Either way, the car looked good, if not spectacular and if you want to see it for yourself log onto the teams website at virginracing.com and you can have a look at the video I made.

After talking with the team management and drivers one thing was abundantly clear. The team that aren't aiming to run before they can walk. A few points in their debut season would be a brilliant result as far as they're concerned, to finish the first race would be, in their minds, a major achievement. I wish them well, they're a good bunch.

Contrast that with another interesting day I had the week before. Blimey, two interesting days in the space of a week, I need to slow down!

This was in Newbury as McLaren and Vodafone showed off their new challenger for 2010. A car that in the words of team boss Martin Whitmarsh, they had worked on and prepared for a new season more comprehensively than ever before. If preparation is the key to success - Alexander Graham Bell's words not mine - then Mclaren have the upper hand already.

They also have the last two world champions in the drivers seat, a first for F1 as no two successive world champions have driven in the same team before. McLaren have had to deal with champions in the past of course, sometimes more successfully than others, but there's no doubt that either driver will find it inexcusable if they haven't been given a car that can challenge from the outset. The pressure's on for Whitmarsh and his team to avoid the mistakes of 2009.

As for the drivers, they both stood smiling for the cameras, making a big play of their respect for each other and how much they get on. In fact they'd both gone for dinner with each other the night before. So far so good then and for any of the gathered hacks wanting to re-write the Hamilton/Alonso story from 2007, that one will have to wait.

I asked Jenson what his goal with his new team was this year. "To win the title, sorry, to retain my title" he replied. Big ambition, but the right ambition, otherwise why come to a team as successful as Mclaren. But is it a realistic ambition? There's no doubting Button's talent and in many areas of the new regulation changes he may have a slight advantage in the early part of the year. But can he beat Lewis Hamilton on a regular basis throughout the year, driving the same car? It's the $64 million question and one that won't be answered for a while yet.

Lewis , after stating that he to wanted the title again this year, talked about having more fun in F1. Reflecting last season's troubles on and off the track, he lamented that things had got a little too serious and that he wanted to put the smile back on his face. He also spoke of how he'd had a big input into the design of the MP4-25, which is radically different to last year's car.

Lewis has been working closely with the design team, which could be bad news for Jenson. Lewis, after all is going to give feedback based on his driving style, a style very different to that of his new team mate. Could it be that Jenson might find early life in the Mclaren cockpit a little more uncomfortable than he did at Honda and Brawn?

At the first test this week in Valencia, Lewis Hamilton recorded a best lap time 7/10th's of a second faster than Jenson Button. There could be many reasons for this - set-up, fuel loads, wind - but compare Button's comments afterwards that times are insignificant at this stage and that his main focus has been on acclimatising to his new car, with that of Hamilton who said that he'd got out of the car smiling. Round one to Lewis? Not really, but he's been a little more positive this week and it's interesting to try and read between the lines from the two driver's quotes.

Assuming it doesn't rain too hard in Jerez next week, the picture will become a little clearer. One thing is for sure, the all British, all champion, battle at McLaren, won't be far from the headlines throughout the season.

Lewis Hamilton is a best priced [5.4] to become world champion again this season. Jenson Button is a best priced [17] to retain his title. Betfair also have a season match bet market with Button [3.5] to beat Hamilton who is [1.23] to beat Button. Where are you putting your money?

Comments (1)

1. RoyBoy | 05 February 2010

   "after stating that he to wanted the title again this year" Should read "after stating that he too wanted the title again this year"