Jenson Button returned to punditry duties at the Miami Grand Prix and had his say on how the first six race weekends of the 2024 Formula 1 season have played out.
Several drivers, such as Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso have performed so well that they’ve already guaranteed their place on the grid for 2025.
Jenson Button was speaking on Sky Sports F1 and wanted to highlight one driver in particular who has stood out for him this year.
With half the seats on the grid next season now filled, there are 10 current drivers still hoping to sign a new contract.
Arguably the highest-profile driver still searching for a seat is Carlos Sainz and Jenson Button was full of praise for him at the Miami Grand Prix.
He’s already a race winner this season but didn’t have the strongest weekend on the paddock’s first visit to the United States this season.
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Jenson Button hails Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz during Miami Grand Prix
After receiving the news before the season opener in Bahrain that he wouldn’t be retained for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Carlos Sainz had a point to prove.
Firstly, to himself that he’s still deserving of a top race seat in F1 after Frederic Vasseur chose to stick with Charles Leclerc to partner Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next year.
But also, to team principals up and down the paddock that he’s worth hiring for 2025.
Damon Hill is predicting Sainz to join Aston Martin, although that would require Lance Stroll to be dropped which seems unlikely.
Mercedes also appear to be looking at other options such as Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while an opening offer from Audi to Sainz has now expired.
The seat that Sainz will really want is at Red Bull with Sergio Perez also facing an uncertain future.
That decision won’t be made until later in the year, but until then the 191-race F1 driver has to keep standards high.
Jenson Button certainly thinks that Sainz has done that and in Miami suggested that he looks like a new driver at the moment.
The Ferrari star is walking around the paddock with a spring in his step, although he’s unlikely to be Oscar Piastri’s favourite person right now.
Carlos Sainz’s best points tally in an F1 season is 246, set in 2022, right now he’s on course to surpass that number even after missing the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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Carlos Sainz has a point to prove to secure his Formula 1 future
Talking about the 29-year-old, Button said: “The consistency has been there compared to Charles [Leclerc].
“You know, Charles has had a couple of incidents here and there but it’s the confidence that he has.
“You see him when he’s walking through the paddock, he’s a more confident individual this year and this is a guy without a drive for 2025.
“So yeah, very consistent and just getting the maximum out of the car every time he gets in it which is a new Carlos Sainz I would say, this is the strongest I’ve ever seen him.”
Jenson Button’s praise came before Sainz had a mixed Miami Grand Prix that ultimately left him finishing 5 in both races.
He couldn’t find a way past Daniel Ricciardo’s V-CARB in the Sprint Race who earned his team’s best finish of the season with some exceptional defensive driving.
Sainz crossed the finish line in 4 in Sunday’s Grand Prix but was handed a five-second penalty for his collision with Oscar Piastri that saw the Australian forced to pit and miss out on the points altogether.
While Leclerc had the stronger weekend in Miami, Sainz is still in a fantastic position this season.
He won’t be worried about his Formula 1 future yet, but he also won’t want Red Bull or Mercedes to make any final decisions without consulting him first.
The post ‘Getting the maximum’: Jenson Button says 191-race F1 driver is now the ‘strongest’ he’s ever seen him appeared first on F1 Oversteer.