Question: Bernie, what did you whisper in Jenson’s ear after he won the title in Sao Paolo?
Bernie Ecclestone: I asked him why he was so insensitive by finishing the job in Brazil and not waiting for the last race in Abu Dhabi like I wanted.
Jenson Button: (laughs) We could have called the last race the ‘World Cup’. Then in addition to the world champion you would have had a world cup winner.
Bernie Ecclestone: Sure. Then you could jump on the gravy train a second time.
Jenson Button: Exactly!
Question: Bernie, do you think Nico Rosberg and Jenson would make good team mates?
Bernie Ecclestone: Yes, because they would support each other.
Jenson Button: A team mate must be two things. He must put you under pressure and he must be willing to bring the team forward together. That was the case this year with Rubens (Barrichello) and me. What was also important was that we both learnt a lot together when we both had a really bad car.
Question: Bernie, who from a sporting and marketing perspective would have been the best champion for you? And what do you expect from Jenson?
Bernie Ecclestone: First of all he should stay as he is. He’s very natural and laidback. There is no need to act. And he has to have the ambition to defend his title. Nobody expects him to go for an Oscar, but he has to understand that as champion he has an obligation towards the public. Some of his predecessors have ignored that. Jenson is the perfect champ, even though he fell into some sort of deep sleep during the midseason.
Jenson Button: Wasn’t that exactly what you told me to do, to keep the championship sizzling? But seriously, over 17 races you experience some ups and downs. Even a seven-time champion had it. Remember Suzuka in 2003? Michael (Schumacher) needed only one point to win the championship and he had real trouble doing it. That shows how big the pressure is. The last couple of months were pretty tough for me, especially when the car lacked performance. Then I made some mistakes and the team did as well. But we didn’t cave in and delivered a strong race in Brazil - the perfect way to win the championship!
Bernie Ecclestone: Everybody has some rainy days once in a while. All that matters is to make the most out of them. That is what Jenson did.
Question: Would you have bet on Jenson becoming champion before this season?
Bernie Ecclestone: Forget it. I wouldn’t even have bet on them being on the grid at the first race.
Jenson Button: That was really nail biting. We knew if we made it to the grid we would have a great season. True, there was no thought of winning races or even both championships, but we knew we had a good car.
Question: Did you realize the potential at the first test?
Jenson Button: Oh yes! I was six-tenths faster than everybody else. They had tested already for three months and I drove out the pits, did six laps and was fastest. And we didn’t experience any reliability problems.
Bernie Ecclestone: All true, and still after the first test nobody would have bet a dime on Brawn. Everybody thought that you were driving on low fuel to attract sponsors.
Jenson Button: And whatever we would have said nobody would have believed us…
Question: Can you understand Sebastian Vettel’s disappointment after seeing the championship slip through his fingers?
Bernie Ecclestone: Yes, because he had done a good job and he knew it.
Jenson Button: I can understand, too. We are all so hooked on wins and success, and you get frustrated when it doesn’t happen.
Bernie Ecclestone: Sebastian still has a lot of time to win the title. He just has to look ahead.
Question: Bernie, there have now been two British champions in a row. What is the biggest difference between Lewis (Hamilton) and Jenson for you?
Bernie Ecclestone: Lewis is much younger. Jenson has a little less time before he’s going to get a pension. (laughs)
Jenson Button: Nice to hear.
Bernie Ecclestone: Jenson had a much bigger mountain to climb than Lewis. Lewis came into Formula One racing a car with the potential to win.
Jenson Button: Yes, our route to the title definitely was different.
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