Button defeat of Hamilton in 2011 'underrated' - Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo says Jenson Button doesn't the get the credit he deserves for beating Lewis Hamilton on "real" circuits during the pair's season together at McLaren in 2011.

Button and Hamilton both scored three wins each for the Woking-based outfit in 2011, but the Briton outscored his teammate to finish runner-up behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' standings, thanks in large part to a string of outstanding drives in the second part of the season.

Ricciardo - who took a trip down memory lane on Twitter to list the five F1 rivals whom he considers as underrated - says Button's achievement in 2011 remains underestimated.

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"How can a World Champion be underrated? Well, hear me out," Ricciardo wrote.

“Jenson had some big years in F1, but I think 2011 when he was teammates with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and beat Lewis fair and square – that’s no easy feat as we all know – was what got him on to my list.

"He beat him on 'real' circuits like Suzuka and his race pace that year…he was at his best in 2011, I reckon."

Ricciardo also highlighted Button's smooth individual approach which differed significantly from Hamilton's more flamboyant way of doing things.

"Jenson did it a bit differently to most of the others, too. He had a good crew around him, was low-key, low-maintenance and just a silky, smooth operator," the Aussie added.

"He’s still the best I’ve seen in those not-quite-wet, not-quite-dry conditions, that sketchy weather, and that win in Canada 2011 – two races before I started my career, actually – was one of the best F1 races ever."

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