Does anybody out there remember Chris Amon? If you're under 30, probably not. Chris drove his last grand prix in 1976 and, to turn things around slightly, could be described as the
Jenson Button of his day.
Like Jenson, Chris was in his 20th year when he made his
F1 debut back in 1963, driving a Lola-Climax in the Belgian Grand Prix. Like Jenson, he was mighty quick. Like Jenson, he qualified on pole position. Like Jenson, he led grands prix. And I suppose you know what's coming next?
You're right. Not once in his 96-race career did Chris Amon pass the chequered flag first. By the time the pleasant New Zealander called time on his career, he'd scored five poles, started from the front row 19 times, finished second on three occasions, third on eight occasions and set fastest race lap three times. But he could never quite mix the magical potion which would enable him to score that elusive win.
I'm sure you know where this is leading. No, not quite. Jenson - who has now run 103 grands prix in his career - should not be unnecessarily depressed about his failure to finish the Australian GP in Melbourne. Okay, so he failed to capitalise on his start from pole position with high hopes at the wheel of his
Honda RA106, but he is nevertheless poised on the cusp of his first F1 victory. It is almost certain to come soon.
This was the considered verdict from
Jackie Stewart, the retired former three times world champion after Button's car expired on the last corner of the 57-lap Melbourne race with a spectacular engine failure. The Scot, who won a then-record 27 grand prix victories in a 99-race career between 1965 and 73, reiterated his firm belief that the 26-year old British driver has both the speed and natural talent to reach the top place on the winner's rostrum.
