F1 Fanatic

It’s just another example of fans applying double standards to Hamilton.

Or another excuse for you to lay into Hamilton/fans. Or start an argument in general.

Most people who are Hamilton fans also tend to be McLaren fans, so I don’t think there’s that many who would expect Jenson to play second fiddle at this point (compared to Japan last year) if the roles were reversed; I don’t see any basis for saying ‘If their positions were reversed, most people would expect Button to support Hamilton.’ Everyone knows the championship is gone too, so that’s even less people to suggest either of them playing #2, let alone having a double standard about it.

Why shouldn’t either get support at this point? Because for Vettel to not be champion now something would have to happen which brings all of them back into play; it’s not like Hamilton is 50 points behind Button, is it? “Every point possible” is a Ferrari mantra and I remember you being pretty against what Ferrari did last year at Hockenheim, so please tell me you’re speaking hypothetically and not actually suggesting McLaren do so, just because it’s Button or you’d be guilty of a double standard too.

You took issue with Ell saying ‘unfortunately’, of course Ell will say that, he likes Hamilton and doesn’t want him to give up any good result to Jenson; it’s a matter of pride. But there’s nothing from what Ell said that suggests there’s a double standard going on; if anything, what Ell said seems to imply that it’s the natural thing for the driver trailing in the points to do, regardless of who they are. Maybe Ell does hold a double standard, but that’s for Ell to say “I would expect Button to play second fiddle in the reverse situation” instead of you assuming it.

Button is out of the title fight too. He is involved in a fight for the runner-up spot against Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton shouldn’t, can’t be asked and won’t be asked to get out of Button’s way because Jenson has a theoretical chance to be champion.
I am a Button fan, but this doesn’t mean I expect Hamilton to play second in the team just because I don’t like him/I like Button. There always should be a straight fight, last year Button only helped the team to get a driver’s title, he didn’t do it because of his great friendship with Hamilton.

If a situation arises where a position swap will allow one of their drivers – regardless of who – to remain in the title hunt, it has to be done.

Just because it’s a long shot for anyone else to win the title, doesn’t mean something won’t happen. If something were to happen to Seb – and god forbid it doesn’t – that sidelined him for the season, with such a small margin to play with it would make total sense for the team put all their effort into one driver. They’d be battling against Alonso, Massa, Webber and whoever else would stand in for Vettel. Having your team mate added to that mix is an unnecessary yet controllable situation.

At the moment, with Button ahead in the standings and momentum, it would make the most sense to pick him. If Lewis were in the same situation, he’d be picked. It doesn’t mean that one driver has a higher status in the team than the other, it means that driver is more likely to secure a better result for the team given the situation. They’re called team orders, not driver orders, because they’re for the benefit of the team. Ferrari would do it, I’m pretty sure Red Bull would do it, and even though McLaren have this image of being ‘fair’, they’re a racing team with the goal of winning, and they’d do it too.

Would they use team orders to ensure a driver gets second in the championship? Probably not. The reward is lower and would be a PR disaster. If they did it, would I understand? Yes.