Who should be given the Honda seat?

[Ardius]

I think this topic is big enough to deserve its own poll and thread outside of the 2009 lineup thread.
Who does everyone think should be given the Honda seats next year?

With both Di Grassi and Senna being given a test for Honda and neither of the race seats confirmed, it looks like Honda are looking to bring in a more youthful line-up. After 2 years of enduring awful cars, both Barrichello and Button are experienced F1 drivers but neither have a confirmed race seat.

Rubens has gone so far to say that he will quit racing forever if he does not get a F1 race seat for 2009.

I personally think that Rubens should be kept on again as he has once again outpaced Button all season and the team will require experienced drivers to help develop the 2009 car with the new reduced testing time they have.
Button has done little to impress, but at least he has the excuse that his poor results are mostly because of two awful cars.
I think that one of the rookies should be given a test driving seat and then perhaps be promoted in 2010 and with so much changing in 2009, I think that experience will be a better asset to the team than youth.

 

[Sureboss]

Does it matter? I think the most important thing is to have a car which can actually do something. Good drivers are important, but it's not their biggest concern. I'd be tempted to stick with the same, both experienced drivers, what you need when you have to re-build a car (3rd time lucky?). If not, probably drop Rubens for a youngster.

 

[daan]

I agree with Sureshot.*

I don't think Senna or Di Grassi are any better than Jenson or Rubens. Give them testing contracts, but I don't think either of them deserves a race seat.

* ...and I don't think that's ever happened before...

 

[Tired Tyres]

Experience counts if you have a good car.

It allows you to maximise the points you win rather than lose out on grid spots and points through inexperience.

This only works if the experienced drivers are still hungry enough of course!

 

[Hun200kmh]

I would go for a mix. One experient and one rookie driver. For the experient, I'd stick with Rubens, he is the better of the two. For the rookie, I'd pick di Grassi. He did his third season of GP2, always with good results (but not a championship win), so I think it's time to move on to F1.

 

[Ardius]

Does it matter?

What do you mean, does it matter??? Its just a discussion, I'm not saying the driver is the most important part, however, I was interested in which direction people think Honda should go in with their driver choices.
However, I believe these race seats could be very important next year if Honda manage to get the car together.
If they stick with experience, they'll ensure their chances of race points and perhaps podiums, however, if they go for youth, they might happen upon a driver or two capable of winning them the championship.

I don't think Senna has done enough to deserve a race seat this year and I'm not sure how good Di Grassi is. So I doubt they are the championship-winning material like Vettel and Hamilton that Honda are perhaps looking for.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Does it matter? I think the most important thing is to have a car which can actually do something. Good drivers are important, but it's not their biggest concern. I'd be tempted to stick with the same, both experienced drivers, what you need when you have to re-build a car (3rd time lucky?). If not, probably drop Rubens for a youngster.

Does this third time lucky concept invovle firing Sheui Nakamoto and begging Geoff Wills to come back to the team as their designer? Of all the stupid ideas in F1, that had to be among the dumbest of the lot.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Does this third time lucky concept invovle firing Sheui Nakamoto and begging Geoff Wills to come back to the team as their designer? Of all the stupid ideas in F1, that had to be among the dumbest of the lot.

I couldn't agree more. 👍

 

[Metar]

Jenson and Rubens are no out-of-this-world drivers, but they are decently fast, very experienced, and one has a 30m$ golden cage around him. Currently, the best thing would be keeping them and letting Nakamoto go - he has the very opposite of Midas' golden touch, and whatever he designs instantly loses downforce (the FIA should ask him for advice when the next round of speed-reducing measures comes). 2009 is a big new world in F1 - a whole new kind of aerodynamics, the first (legally) moveable wings since the '70s, KERS - and drivers that know their cars and give accurate, precise feedback are of enormous value. Top teams may lose their spot, and now's the time to shine - if you can develop the package properly.

 

[Lee]

Button should be kept, he's in his late 20's now and in the prime of his career, time to show what he can really do. As for a teamie, my heart says Di Grassi, my head says Barrichello. No way is Senna ready for F1 after racing for only what, 4 years? :S

I'll put my money on Button and Barrichello retaining.

 

[Only_in_f1]

I'll my money on DiGrassi and Button with Sato and Senna at STR.

 

[TS]

Button and di Grassi, I haven't seen enough of Senna to judge whether or not he deserves an F1 shot.

 

[Only_in_f1]

My view isn't based on whether he deserves it, just the fact I think he will be in F1 next year.

Edit:

Bee, I like the sig

 

[Aldo]

stick with the old boys
thats my opinon

 

[Only_in_f1]

But change is good.




Gives us someone else to laugh at.

 

[nissan tuner]

All I know is that Button deserves the top seat. Second seat is a toss-up between Di Grassi and Senna.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/081116100016.shtml

 

[Ardius]

All I know is that Button deserves the top seat.

Why? Barrichello has out performed him every single time. Button is also paid way, way too much I have no idea why Honda love him so much - is it just because of that flukey win at Hungary 2006?
Barrichello is the more capable driver of the two and its sad to hear further news that he's even more likely to be dropped. It makes sense because of his age..but still, an end of an era, Barrichello has provided many a highlight in F1 be it with Jordan, Stewart, Ferrari or Honda.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Why? Barrichello has out performed him every single time. Button is also paid way, way too much I have no idea why Honda love him so much - is it just because of that flukey win at Hungary 2006?

Actually, Button was signed to drive for Williams before the '06 season (I think), and tried to back out because the Williams package was nowhere near as good as it was supposed to be (what with all the Cosworth dramas). When Williams refused, Honda ended up buying out Button's contract, so basically he's racing for a minimum wage because all his salary went to Williams' coffers. Thirty millions dollars makes for a pretty good set of golden handcuffs, so there's no way Button will be able to go anywhere else beforehand simply because no-one else would pay up on his behalf. He's stuck with Honda for three or four years - maybe more; however long he was supposed to be driving for Williams - so it's unlikely that they'll let him go before he's worked his debt off.

 

[Ardius]

Ah, ok, that explains the money then, I must have not paid much attention to that when it was going on, I'd forgotten all about it.

But still, why does it mean Button deserves the top seat?

 

[Lee]

Perhaps it's because Button has fantastic leadership skills, he can rally up the team. He never once let his head go down this season and just jept on looking to the future, that's what Honda needs, if it was an Alonso or a Kubica, they'd have just made a bad situation feel much worse.

 

[Danny]

I think Honda could do a lot worse than to keep Barichello. He's put in some stellar drives in a less than competetive car. I reckon Barichello/Wurz, but I doubt that would come into fruition.

 

[Sureboss]

What do you mean, does it matter???

However, I believe these race seats could be very important next year if Honda manage to get the car together.

You've answered your own question, Ardius.

 

[nissan tuner]

Perhaps it's because Button has fantastic leadership skills, he can rally up the team. He never once let his head go down this season and just jept on looking to the future, that's what Honda needs, if it was an Alonso or a Kubica, they'd have just made a bad situation feel much worse.

Barrichello's age is also another factor. Does Honda really want to invest time into a guy that has 2 season's left at the most?

 

[Danny]

Barrichello's age is also another factor. Does Honda really want to invest time into a guy that has 2 season's left at the most?

He's still got it though. Third at British GP.

 

[Metar]

What's left to invest? A solid driver that needs no development and, if anything, is at his prime, if not past it. He's shown this year that he can wring some hope out of that son of a Prost chassis.

 

[Ardius]

Perhaps it's because Button has fantastic leadership skills, he can rally up the team. He never once let his head go down this season and just jept on looking to the future, that's what Honda needs, if it was an Alonso or a Kubica, they'd have just made a bad situation feel much worse.

Really? Because he seemed to have no interest at all in driving this year, being completely outclassed by Barrichello and only just staying ahead of the Force Indias. Then theres the "wah wah, why couldn't they work on this years car?" complaining.
It seems to me that Button is a royal pain in the back side to Honda, taking up money, a driver seat and constantly complaining about his car and then doing nothing with it. Don't get me wrong, he has some skill when hes motivated and he is no where near the worst F1 driver of all time nor does he have the worst personality on the gird (though it could be considered dislikable).
Its just he doesn't deliver anywhere near what he should do in my opinion.

You've answered your own question, Ardius.

Ok, I get it now. Thank you. Still, it was a little over the top, seeing as we have got into a decent discussion now.

Barrichello's age is also another factor. Does Honda really want to invest time into a guy that has 2 season's left at the most?

If this was Coulthard or Hill or Villeneuve, etc, I would agree with you, however Barrichello has yet to lose his motivation and drive, the man is still racing with the best of them and driving that Honda into the ground.
A valuable asset to the team more so than what I can see from Button. I wonder if Force India would grab Barrichello? More experience than Fisichella and a better driver in my opinion.

 

[Sureboss]

I don't think it was OTT. It was a point, it wasn't a vicious "Does it matter?" with a sarcastic overtone.

 

[nissan tuner]

A valuable asset to the team more so than what I can see from Button.

you say that only because he out scored button this 1 year?

 

[Lee]

Then theres the "wah wah, why couldn't they work on this years car?" complaining.

Think you got him mixed up with Kubica there bud.

 

[Ardius]

I don't think it was OTT. It was a point, it wasn't a vicious "Does it matter?" with a sarcastic overtone.

It seemed like it to me, but whatever, its irrelevant now.

you say that only because he out scored button this 1 year?

Yes, and he also out-qualified him. I realise in years past Button has out performed Barrichello, but looking at this year, Button's skill is no where to be seen, at least he could have made more of an effort, though I do realise that a driver probably isn't too motivated to drive hard when they've had to endure a year+ of bad machinery, theres still a contrast between the two drivers.

Think you got him mixed up with Kubica there bud.

No, I distinctly remember him saying something about it just before or during the Brazilian Grand Prix.