Sebastian Vettel won’t need to take any risks in the remaining eight races as an 85-point lead, coupled with a competitive car, means the title is pretty much his, according to Jenson Button.
The McLaren driver, currently fifth with a 100-point deficit to Vettel, was in a similar position in 2009 when he went on to win his maiden title.
A dominant Brawn GP car saw the Brit win six of the first seven races, giving him a massive advantage which saw him win the title at the penultimate race in Brazil, despite failing to win another race that year.
Vettel’s position almost mirrors that of Button’s – six wins from eight races, four second places and a worst finish of fourth – has put the 24-year-old in a commanding position, which has led Button to believe Vettel needn’t take any risks as the pressure is off.
“He’s already won the World Championship, which is very important,” Button told the Independent. “You don’t feel the pressure so much, when you’ve already done it.
“It wasn’t easy for me to win consistently by the end of the year but he still has a massive lead. He has no need to take risks and he’s driving a competitive car.”
Button suggests Vettel has a greater advantage than he did, thanks to the resources available to Red Bull, something Brawn didn’t have as the season progressed.
“Red Bull has great resources, so it’s a different situation to the one I found myself in with Brawn. And if I had the lead he’s got, I wouldn’t be feeling any pressure at all!
“He’s facing an eight-race World Championship and he’s starting it with an 80-point lead! That’s a massive gap. And he’s still in one of the quickest cars. That’s the best position possible.”
