With 16 years experience, Redders will bring a monthly blog about his passion, Formula One. Occasionally though, it may be about his personal life. More of Redders can be found on the Formula One Passion Union though, which includes his previews for each GP - known as "The Red Light".

• 9Dec 09

  The Life of a University Student: Part 1

  Well, there's been a fair few big topics to talk about in the F1 world recently, but during the winter things tend to calm down. Whilst it would be all too tempting to talk about the British GP remaining in my home Shire, I think it's time to take a break - after all, it's been a while since we've had a Redders blog.

  I'm one week from finishing my first semester at University, and it seems to have flown by. To think, in just over a week I'll be back home for three weeks for Christmas. It's been a busy two and a half months, but hey, I've loved the Uni life so far, and to think this is only two and a half months of my future three years, there's plenty more fun times to come.

  For those of you who aren't aware, I'm at De Montfort University studying Media Production for a BSc. In this first semester, I've only had one piece of work to hand in, which is a group piece on creating a website using HTML. But it this way, it drove me mad, and made me quite happy I don't have to look at it again. I still have to give a demonstration on how it works first before I know how well we did, but hopefully it will turn out well. Sadly, we already know we're losing about 10% of our overall mark because we implemented Javascript into our website - and because it's not HTML strict, we can't validate our page, which means we get marked down. Considering they'd never teach us how to implement it anyway, surely we should be rewarded for testing new things out, not punished?

  Otherwise, the course has focused upon GCSE level Maths (no kidding, it's that simple), Social networking (oh yeah, even MORE easier), building an AM radio, and Photoshop. The latter is interesting, given we have to make a photomontage by 28th January, and for those who have seen my Photoshop skills previously will know they're far from decent. I'm looking forward to the 2nd semester though when we move on to moving images. Hooray, my field is finally gonna be taught!

  As for the actual move away from home, it's been a lot less stressful than first anticipated. Probably made easier by the fact I still go home every weekend, it's good to know that the comfort factor is still there. On the other hand, I think I'd be okay to stay here for a lengthy period of time, as I've got settled in to the Uni way of life.

  On the other hand, some people keep bugging me by asking me the same question, usually said in the following manner:

  "Hey Redders, why haven't you applied for the X-Factor?"

  Yes, the number of times this has been said since I moved to University has increased dramatically. In fact, at one point someone asked why there wasn't a Facebook group to get me to sign up to it... I'm in two minds about it. Firstly, if I wanna go in to the music industry, I want to do it the normal way, but on the other hand if Jedward can make it to the final 12, surely I'd make it easily to the finals? Who knows...

  Oh, and one last thing: does it really count as a "date" if one guy and one girl go out for a meal together? I've done this and am gonna be doing it again soon, and everyone seems to think this girl has an interest in me - is the Aspergers really making me blind to all this?

  I don't think there's much else I can bring up now other than... I'm a Uni student, and I love it!

  • Posted Dec 9, 2009 5:06 pm PT
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• 16Nov 09

  Jenson Button to McLaren - why it is NOT good!

  On the 16th November, it was announced that Brawn GP would become Mercedes Grand Prix for the 2010 season. This leaves a nice little piece of history for the record books, as Brawn GP - despite competing in only 17 races in their history - will be the most successful F1 team ever. Winning 100% of every championship they fought for, and winning 47.04% of all races entered too.

  However, there is a major downside to this move to Mercedes Grand Prix - and that is it now seems likely Jenson Button will be leaving the team to join McLaren. Don't get me wrong, McLaren is a fantastic team with brilliant employees who can build great cars, but Button doesn't need to go to Woking, especially when the current line-up consists of Lewis Hamilton.

  The problem is that Hamilton and McLaren is the equivalent of Alonso and Renault - except in this case, done a bit more fairly. In the case of the Macca boys, at least they acknowledge they have a 2nd driver. The problem is in comparison to Lewis, Jenson is still unlikely to get the same treatment as Hamilton. Lewis, being the protoge of Ron Dennis and growing up within McLaren, knows everyone, gets on with everyone and is a vital part of the team. Button's only links to McLaren are through running the Mercedes engine this year.

  Secondly, the team are still not perfect - yes, they were much stronger in the second half of 2009, and Hamilton did score the most points - but the car is still not perfect given even through those good times, it could only win two races. In that same period, Red Bull won 4 races, Brawn GP won two and even Ferrari managed to take a win. Yes, they were on the backfoot because of the 2008 title fight and the massive changes in regulations, but starting the season 2.5 seconds off the pace of the fastest car is plain awful. Whilst the regulation changes for now and 2010 are nowhere near as big, it must be taken into account they - along with Ferrari - now need to learn how to set up the car without KERS. There have been times when both teams ran a race without it, but those were both when the car was performing awfully. Again, this change could initially hinder the likes of McLaren.

  Let's not also forget the way both men drive their cars. Lewis loves a car on the edge - one that tries to fight him but that he can fight back - a car that puts plenty of demand on the tyres as he'll drive rough, as most drivers do. Then there's Jenson, who could not be any more different in his way of driving. He loves a car that has a tiny bit of understeer, one that works for his way of being easy on the throttle and brakes - his way requires next to no demand on the tyres at all. There is no way McLaren can produce a car that suits both of their needs, and so they can only go one way - and given this is Hamilton's team, it's a pretty safe bet Jenson's gonna get the raw end of the deal. Therefore, it's gonna be safe to say that with a car that doesn't work for Jenson but works fantastically for Lewis, McLaren will end up making Jenson another Kovalainen, another Coulthard, another Prost.

  Still, you're probably asking "it can't be thatbad though? He's with a top team, he'll still be in a competitive car!"

  That may be so, but compare it to what he could have:

  Brawn GP is now Mercedes Grand Prix. Ross Brawn is still at the helm, and is probably the God of Formula One right now. He turned a team which was stuck in the backmarkers into a team that won both championships in 2009. Even with no capabilities to fend off McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull near the end of the year, they were STILL beating them, and took 11 points in the final race of the season where Macca and the Scuderia both took nothing. Now, it's a manufacturer again, and has major funding from Mercedes. They already have a strong car, it never ran KERS in 2009, so needs only minor changes in comparison to McLaren. That instantly puts them in a strong position for 2010 - all it needs is a brilliant driver line-up. In Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, that's a guarantee and a pretty good shot for keeping the titles where they currently reside. In Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld, it's a guaranteed loss. Nico could take the Drivers Title if given the right car, but that's not for certain, and Heidfeld still hasn't even won a race, let alone been a contender for a title. Then again, Button never had been a title contender until 2009.

  Mercedes say they don't need two German drivers, then I have to ask why they're contemplating it. Heidfeld - as much as I rate his talent - would be a real boost to one of the new teams in getting them off the ground and helping them become more competitive. If Mercedes really wants a shot at both titles, they need Button and Rosberg as a team. That too also allows Raikkonen to team with Hamilton - and when you think of it that way, look at what the top 4 teams would be:

  Mercedes Grand Prix: Jenson Button & Nico Rosberg
  Red Bull Racing: Sebastian Vettel & Mark Webber
  Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton & Kimi Raikkonen
  Scuderia Ferrari: Felipe Massa & Fernando Alonso

  That alone would make eight genuine contenders for the Formula One World Drivers Championship. If Button joins Hamilton and Heidfeld goes to Mercedes, that really only makes six - because Jens wouldn't have the support Lewis does, and Heidfeld just hasn't been fully able to get the break he needs in a good car. If we had the line-up as shown above, it truly would show the eventual World Champion as a deserving one given how close these four teams will (hopefully) be in 2010.

  So Ross... you've got the funds to do it now - up Jens' salary and keep him with the right team!

  • Posted Nov 16, 2009 7:04 pm PT
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• 20Oct 09

  We are the Champions! (Part 1)

  6 and a half years of dreaming, and now it's reality. Jenson Button... Formula One World Champion. You can't even start to imagine how fantastic that is to now say as a fact!

  And to top it off, it truly is the greatest comeback story of all time. Just 11 months ago, Jens was out of Formula One. Nowhere to go, and possibly to the shadows of all the F1 drivers who never got their chance to shine. Yet here he is today, standing amongst 30 other drivers as a legend. And I'm not exaggerating.

  Many, for some reason, claim Jenson Button is an unworthy, or undeserving, Champion. If there's any word to describe his championship win that begins with "un", it's "underappreciated". No one - not evenI - can even begin to comprehend the past 12 months for the man and how difficult it has been for him, apart from his team and his family.

  The story begins with Frank Williams:

  "The name of our new driver who will join Ralf in the BMW-Williams team this year is Jenson Button"

  2000: BMW-Williams - 8th in Drivers Championship, 12 points (Best Result: 4th, Germany)

  A debut season to remember. A strong debut race in Australia cut short by a mechanical failure, but made up for it by scoring his first point in Brazil the following round after Coulthard was disqualified. He would become the youngest driver to score a World Championship point until Sebastian Vettel topped him at the 2007 United States GP in his one race appearance for the BMW-Sauber team.

  He stunned again by finishing 5th in his home race - only his 4th GP start. To this date, Button has only topped that finish once - in 2004.

  His love of the Hockenheim circuit became rather apparent in his debut year when he finished 4th, which would end up being his highest finish for the season.

  The only main notable error for Jenson Button in this year was a silly crash at Monza under the safety car, when the grid in front of him closed up and he failed to slow down. He ended up hitting the barriers on the side avoiding the cars in front, and later retiring.

  Despite such a strong start to his Formula One career, Button would be replaced at Williams by Juan Pablo Montoya.

  2001: Benneton - 17th in Drivers Championship, 2 points (Best Result: 5th, Germany)

  Jenson Button, the guy loving life and "just driving the car on a weekend basis", got a massive shock when he joined Benneton in 2001.

  It suddenly hit him that this was more than just driving the car - the package he was given was a complete disaster. Rather than numerous point-scoring races, Button would only finish one race in the points - and surprise surprise, it was Hockenheim again. Beside this, it was a rather forgetful season for the Brit.

  Juan Pablo Montoya, who was Button's replacement at Williams, would win in his debut season.

  2002: Renault - 7th in Drivers Championship, 14 points (Best Result: 4th, Malaysia & Brazil)

  With Benneton being re-branded as Renault for the 2002 season, Button had his third different teammate in as many seasons as Giancarlo Fisichella did a straight swap with Jarno Trulli from Jordan. Numerous points finishes, including a back-to-back 4th place in Malaysia and Brazil, meant Jenson Button was right back to where he'd started in 200, but with a lot more maturity. In Malaysia though, the Brit was cruely denied a podium finish when a suspension failure allowed Michael Schumacher to pass him on the final lap of the race. Trulli was the better qualifier, but Button took the race finishes.

  Again, despite a good season, Button was dropped for Fernando Alonso, who had driven for Minardi in 2001 before becoming a test driver for Renault in '02.

  2003: B.A.R. Honda - 9th in Drivers Championship, 17 points (Best Result: 4th, Austria & Japan)

  Another season, another teammate - this time, former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. During the season, the Canadian described Button as a "wannabe Backstreet Boy". It was through this comment that yours truly would become a Jenson Button fan, dedicating himself to cheering on the Frome star and never changing allegiance since.

  By the end of the season, Villeneuve had been eating humble pie. Button had wiped the floor with Jacques, so much so that the Candian wouldn't even participate in the final race of the season, the honour instead going to Takuma Sato, the speedy yet unreliable Japanese star, who would score points at home finishing in 6th place whilst Button equalled his best result of the season with a 4th place.

  The season was marred by an injury which caused him to miss the Monaco GP after heavily crashing into the barriers coming to the Nouvelle Chicane.

  Ironically again, Button's replacement at Renault - Fernando Alonso - would score his debut win in the season.

  2004: B.A.R. Honda - 3rd in Drivers Championship, 85 points (Best Result: 2nd, San Marino, Monaco, Germany & China)

  Up until his Championship-winning season this year, Button's 2004 campaign was by miles his greatest season of all, best of the rest behind the dominent Ferrari's of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

  The promise of a Jenson Button podium had been lingering for ages, and then in the one season alone, Jens would go on to score ten of them. His cruel luck at Malaysia 2 years prior was repaid for when he finally delivered that elisive podium position in Sepang. After that, he just couldn't stop being on the podium. In the first ever race in Bahrain he would take 3rd, and then bettered that in San Marino by finishing 2nd - and in the process, scoring his first ever pole position. The greatest race of his season happened in Monaco, where he finished less than half a second off of a race win which was taken by former teammate Jarno Trulli - who himself took his debut victory in F1 after 117 races, and ended up breaking the streak of Michael Schumacher who, until that race, had won every GP in that season. Schumacher would then go and win the next 7 races as well.

  The podiums still didn't stop though - following Monaco was another duo of 3rd places (European GP at the Nurburgring and in Canada). Button would go and top his debut visit to Silverstone by finishing 4th - which to date is still his best outing at the Northamptonshire circuit - before taking a brilliant 2nd place at Hockenheim (yet again), which was most notable for two things: spending most of the race holding on to his helmet with an issue, and for his overtake of the season on Fernando Alonso.

  The Belgian GP returned after a one-year hiatus, and was B.A.R.'s worst weekend of the season - it was the only one in which they scored 0 points. Sato was involed in a first-lap collision, whereas Button's tyre exploded spectacularly on the back straight, smashing in to the side of Zsolt Baumgartner's Minardi which, whilst unfortunate for the Hungarian, did save Button from suffering a large injury. This race also marked Ferrari's 700th GP start, and Michael Schumacher's last World Championship victory. Scary thought to think that was already over 5 years ago...

  Button would finish the final four races of the season with three podiums - a third in Italy and Japan, and in between taking 2nd place in the inaugural Chinese GP. Strangely enough, the next time Button would finish 2nd in a race, Barrichello would win the race and Raikkonen would come third - the exact same podium as in China. This race also marked Michael Schumacher's worst ever race-finishing position in 12th.

  Button's season came to an abrupt end of just three laps when his engine let go in Brazil. Nonetheless, Jenson scored in every race he finished in 2004 - a record he seems to be about to equal in 2009.

  Button's year was marred however by a contract debate - the Brit wanted to move back to Williams, but David Richards was adament that Jenson was to remain at B.A.R. - to which Richards eventually won the contract to keep Jenson, and provided him with an opt-out ability: If he didn't score 70% of the Champions points by the end of the year, he could leave the team.

  • Posted Oct 20, 2009 7:53 pm PT
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