Okay - it was the old - 'make the other guy do something illegal to get a penatly' move because I can't hold him off routine. It is more plain the more often I see the replay. It all makes sense when you use that perspective. Brilliant move by Button - if he is going to pass make him do it off track for a penalty!
The more I think about it the more I find it strange that Vettel had so much more traction than Button even thought he was on the paint! Put it in context of Button knowing right away that Vettel had been trapped in a penalty - listen again to the radio message from him! Like he sprang a trap! Let's face it, given the way Button positioned his car Vettel could only go to the outside. Let's imagine Button slowed down extra early and allowed Vettel next to him - from there is was only a matter of going slow and further to the left - Vettel had to go around and could not get behind him (I think Button would have almost stopped to make certain Vettel was not behind him and stayed next to him).
Let's assume Button is a very sly and crafty driver - he knows his goose is cooked and he can't hold off Vettel. If he can get Vettel to run off the track during a pass and then slow down enough so that it is not practical for Vettel to quickly return the position he places Vettel into a certain penalty. He could afford to do this since the next driver was back a bit. Notice how much Vettel gained that lap! Button virtually coasted after that pass to make it impossible for a spotter to tell Vettel that it was a trap and to return the position.
Not saying this happened BUT it is possible and the lap time Button posted after the pass makes it possible though not certain. We can all agree that it made no sense for Button to fight back after the pass! Vettel may have been played by the more mature Button. Nothing wrong with that, it is just that we should not imagine it not being possible. It is a brilliant strategy - certainly not the first time it has been effectively deployed. It all depends on the analysis by the stewards -
Again - I know what Vettel did was illegal BUT did Button do anything to get the spot back or more importantly to allow Vettel to give it back? If he slowed down so much to prevent Vettel from falling back in line I would let Vettel go and let him have the position, if I was the steward and taking everything into account. I would not let the drivers play me for a fool. This is similar to the way soccer players can generate penalties - by being 'injured'.
Enough said. Alonso deserved the win, Button deserved to get second by outsmarting Vettel and the rules. Vettel learned a valuable lesson.