Jenson Button & McLaren
Discussion
JB's contract is up at the end of this season. Will he stay at McLaren? Should he stay at McLaren? What teams are available to him should be, or McLaren, decide not to re-new his contract?
Given next season will be Honda's return to F1, I personally feel that McLaren and Honda need an experienced driver to aid the bedding in process. I also have a sneaky feeling that McLaren will be alot more competitive next season as well. I'd like to see JB stay at McLaren, but they also need to give him a car worthy of having a go at the WDC.
I cannot see him wanting to go to another team that cannot offer him this, so to me, its either McLaren or bust. There is talk of Alonso maybe going to McLaren (though given it was written by Benson...), but I cannot see him wanting to leave Ferrari without winning the WDC with them, so the option of JB going there is out of the question imo.
Will McLaren want to keep his services? Reportedly they have a good young driver available, and KM hasnt done too bad a job in his rookie year, so perhaps they will go with youth for both drivers, though I really think this would be a mistake.
I am a JB supporter, and would like to see him have a top drive and to show that 2009 wasnt a one off.
Given next season will be Honda's return to F1, I personally feel that McLaren and Honda need an experienced driver to aid the bedding in process. I also have a sneaky feeling that McLaren will be alot more competitive next season as well. I'd like to see JB stay at McLaren, but they also need to give him a car worthy of having a go at the WDC.
I cannot see him wanting to go to another team that cannot offer him this, so to me, its either McLaren or bust. There is talk of Alonso maybe going to McLaren (though given it was written by Benson...), but I cannot see him wanting to leave Ferrari without winning the WDC with them, so the option of JB going there is out of the question imo.
Will McLaren want to keep his services? Reportedly they have a good young driver available, and KM hasnt done too bad a job in his rookie year, so perhaps they will go with youth for both drivers, though I really think this would be a mistake.
I am a JB supporter, and would like to see him have a top drive and to show that 2009 wasnt a one off.
FourWheelDrift said:
Honda will want Button, but after the last time he drove for them will he want them?
If moves happen I could see Ron's old boy Raikonnen to McLaren, Button to Red Bull and Vettel to Ferrari as the only scenario I can see if any of them move.
I can not see Button to Red Bull , Vet is part of the furniture a DR has had a storming start If moves happen I could see Ron's old boy Raikonnen to McLaren, Button to Red Bull and Vettel to Ferrari as the only scenario I can see if any of them move.
It's easy to think that Jenson is looking lacklustre this season and winding down to the end of his career. However, when he finished right behind KM in Australia, everyone thought KM was the second coming. Since then JB has outperformed him in every race.
On that basis, I'd be surprised if McLaren let him go unless they can get another genuine title contender in the car. Alonso will never go back to McLaren now Ron is back in charge, but Kimi may fancy it. Maybe Vettel will jump ship, but I can only imagine into a red car. Depending on how things develop at Mercedes, maybe Lewis might want to go 'home'?
In reality, with Honda coming on board I expect JB to remain at McLaren for two years (One to get them up and running and one to have a title shot). After that I think they'll be lining up another driver, so maybe the contract will be extended another year if necessary to line up with someone elses availability.
On that basis, I'd be surprised if McLaren let him go unless they can get another genuine title contender in the car. Alonso will never go back to McLaren now Ron is back in charge, but Kimi may fancy it. Maybe Vettel will jump ship, but I can only imagine into a red car. Depending on how things develop at Mercedes, maybe Lewis might want to go 'home'?
In reality, with Honda coming on board I expect JB to remain at McLaren for two years (One to get them up and running and one to have a title shot). After that I think they'll be lining up another driver, so maybe the contract will be extended another year if necessary to line up with someone elses availability.
McClure said:
Except Ron might want rid of Whitmarsh's driver.
Ron's not thick. Vettel looks entrenched, or moving to Ferrari at best. Alonso's unlikely to get a return to McLaren. Hamilton's now at Merc.There's no other top driver left that's likely to be moving surely? Kimi's not worth bothering with imo, which is a shame after his return at Lotus. Only driver that might be worth a punt in my eyes is Grosjean. Button's a proven points scorer, former WDC and will have the benefit of experience both as a driver and working with Honda.
I'll just add this link:
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/opinion/what-...
Didn't Button win the Autosport backed by McLaren young driver of the year that included a drive in a McLaren on the way up? Was Whitmarsh that entrenched and influential back then for Button to be deemed Whitmarsh's boy?
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/opinion/what-...
Didn't Button win the Autosport backed by McLaren young driver of the year that included a drive in a McLaren on the way up? Was Whitmarsh that entrenched and influential back then for Button to be deemed Whitmarsh's boy?
carinaman said:
I'll just add this link:
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/opinion/what-...
Didn't Button win the Autosport backed by McLaren young driver of the year that included a drive in a McLaren on the way up? Was Whitmarsh that entrenched and influential back then for Button to be deemed Whitmarsh's boy?
Yes he did. Then he ended up at Williams F1.http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/opinion/what-...
Didn't Button win the Autosport backed by McLaren young driver of the year that included a drive in a McLaren on the way up? Was Whitmarsh that entrenched and influential back then for Button to be deemed Whitmarsh's boy?
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