Andretti: I was completely wrong about Button
'Super Mario' acknowledges his error in judgment about Jenson Button, whom he expected to see outperformed by his teammate, but in an interview with GPUpdate.net, the 1978 world champion also shares his views on the usefulness of DRS and expresses his sadness over Williams' decline.
World champion in 1978 with Lotus, Mario Andretti is one of the legends of global motorsport and still presents himself today as an unwavering fan of Formula One. In an interview with *GPUpdate.net*, the last American Formula One world champion reflects on 2011 and already looks towards 2012: « I think it was another very interesting season last year, there’s no doubt about that. Like everyone, I think when only one driver dominates, things get a bit too predictable, but there were some revelations. For example, I thought Jenson Button was going to have a tough time with Lewis Hamilton, and it turned out to be the opposite. I had assumed it would be difficult for all the second drivers, like Mark Webber, which was the case, but I included Jenson in that and I was completely wrong. But I like surprises; they are good for the sport. »
Regarding the interest in the sport, Mario Andretti is, however, more reserved concerning the use of the DRS: « It is somewhat artificial, particularly the way it is regulated: it’s as if the driver being overtaken is defenseless! You see, he can’t really protect himself because if you block, you’re penalized, so it’s a bit artificial. I prefer KERS in that sense, but, you know, no one has the exact answer when it comes to improving overtaking, so you can’t blame them for trying these things. Either you accept it, or you look elsewhere. Some people probably won’t want to see this, but the drivers must always be in a position to take advantage of the KERS [or DRS], so the driver still has to do his job properly. All things considered, I like to think they should keep these systems in place. »
Far from the dominance of Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull, far from the fierce battle for podium positions, the 2011 season was marked by the spectacular decline – even though it had been underway for several years now – of Williams, one of the most emblematic teams in Formula One: « I would like to see Williams right the ship; it was sad to see their incredible drop in performance compared to the mid-tier and back of the grid teams. It’s something very moving: I know that Patrick Head has retired, but good old Frank [Williams] is still on the front line, which is great to see. He’s a tough one, really! »
For ‘Super Mario’, Williams is currently in a negative spiral, the presence of a superstar could, however, reverse the course: When you are not performing, then few people are willing to spend a lot of money to sponsor you, and you feel the effects. But what leads the ship to a safe harbor is a star driver, and by that, I mean a real star. Barrichello was very solid and experienced and all that jazz, but they need a superstar. […] I think [signing Kimi Räikkönen] would have sparked incredible interest, it’s what they needed, something that would have really shaken everyone up. I think it could have made an enormous difference assures the 1978 world champion, conceding, however, that there can always be a surprise.
As the start of the 2012 season approaches, Mario Andretti is half-heartedly refusing to play the prediction game: “It would be stating the obvious, but I simply don’t like to venture into such predictions, I’ve been there before. More specifically, I like to see the top teams get their share of the pie, and like most fans, I would obviously like to see a competitive season. I would like to see the resurgence of Ferrari, it’s always good for motorsports and for Formula One, and I think that’s what we’re going to see.”
