Opinion | Jenson Button win eclipsed by livid Lewis Hamilton's leak
The former F1 champ won well at Spa but fellow McClaren driver is not so popular after tweeting secret telemetry photos
There won't be too many drivers walking into the paddock in Monza this weekend with their head held high, but Jenson Button certainly has reason to be bursting with pride and optimism. Given the chaos and carnage behind him in Spa on Sunday, his was the most calm and collected drive of the season.
The Briton hadn't been on pole in 50 races for McLaren, and hadn't headed the qualifying field since Monaco in 2009. Before Spa he was answering questions about whether he was going to be the water carrier for teammate Lewis Hamilton. It will be a little different heading into this weekend. He may still be behind Hamilton in the standings (and two race wins behind leader Fernando Alonso), but his serene "lights to flag" win will surely bring him momentum and galvanise the team.
The same couldn't be said for his McLaren stablemate. Just when you thought Lewis Hamilton had finally matured and stopped being such a stroppy blighter, he manages to alienate the whole team. Mind you, other teams will be lining up to buy him an Italian beer after tweeting pictures of top secret McLaren telemetry.
It's hard to underline just how stupid his actions were. They may just be squiggles on a computer screen to you and I, but telemetry from a car is a treasury of information - especially in the hands of other teams. Other sportsmen have form when it comes to ill-judged tweets, but I doubt the outspoken Rio Ferdinand would ever dare reveal Alex Ferguson's team talk.
His frustration stemmed from a wrong choice of rear wing in qualifying. Button chose the new design and flew. Hamilton didn't and took to his phone to tweet a few choice expressions. In a way it is refreshing. In an age where everything is so carefully stage managed and press officers hover like spectres, the land of tweets circumvents the whole circus and lifts the curtain on emotions (and data).
It can be manna from heaven for fans and journalists alike. But I can guarantee it hasn't gone down well with the team. Even Button sniffed and told reporters he was "disappointed". I wonder how the contract negotiations have gone this week.