Jensons future
Discussion
Bradgate said:
Daz68 said:
Back up in case Alonso gets fed up and leaves?
McLaren are covering themselves in case Alonso doesn't fancy another season of 'hoping to get into Q3' if next year's car is off the pace.
Tinfoil time - Alonso has already told McLaren he's retiring after 2017 come what may, SVD said he'd leave if he didn't drive next year, Button sits out a year and comes back in 2017.
Cloud cuckoo land if anyone thinks the mclarens going to be challenging merc ferrari and redbull in 2017 and that Button will be driving it in 2018.
He should have taken the Williams drive or retired with dignity.
Having a world drivers champion basically being a hanger oner in the pit lane is not good for the sport or Button himself.
He should have taken the Williams drive or retired with dignity.
Having a world drivers champion basically being a hanger oner in the pit lane is not good for the sport or Button himself.
Can understand why McLaren have done this - Vandoorne is very much unproven and they could be stuck with a lame duck in their car - having been caught out by Perez and Magnussen in recent years, it makes sense to have a decent plan B.
However, for JB, I can't understand it - they must be offering him silly money to do sod all other than smile and talk to sponsors. But he surely has enough money to be able to walk away from it all.
However, for JB, I can't understand it - they must be offering him silly money to do sod all other than smile and talk to sponsors. But he surely has enough money to be able to walk away from it all.
cgt2 said:
llewop said:
Given Alonso's recent history in getting himself crocked
Alonso is a lot more mature than he was in 2007. He has said probably three dozen times in interviews that he is definitely driving in 2017 - only the halfwits at Sky F1 seem to constantly recycle the theory he is not when they have nothing else to witter on about...But since you mention it - Mark Webber seems to also support the view that Alonso might walk away if the car doesn't live up to expectations, so not just the Sky crew on that notion.
llewop said:
But since you mention it - Mark Webber seems to also support the view that Alonso might walk away if the car doesn't live up to expectations, so not just the Sky crew on that notion.
I hadn't seen that, and Alonso and Webber are mates. But it would contradict everything Alonso has said on multiple occasions when asked this question.Sorry to see Jenson without a drive. Underrated and just needed a better platform to produce results.
The Williams drive would have just been another hard slog with probably little chances of wins or title.
Can't see how the sabbatical will work out with a return in 2018.
Getting good money as an ambassador probably and keeps him in the scene.
I can see how his current situation with Honda pace would be incredibly frustrating. Hope he doesn't suddenly see a hugely competitive mclaren on track next year. That would be hard to swallow.
The Williams drive would have just been another hard slog with probably little chances of wins or title.
Can't see how the sabbatical will work out with a return in 2018.
Getting good money as an ambassador probably and keeps him in the scene.
I can see how his current situation with Honda pace would be incredibly frustrating. Hope he doesn't suddenly see a hugely competitive mclaren on track next year. That would be hard to swallow.
Thing is, McLaren are a long way from their heyday and will probably finish behind Force India this year. Even if their dreams come true, Alonso winning in 2017 over Ferrari, RB &Merc seems pure delusion.
That'll be a long time at the back for a team which views itself as part of the natural order, meaning their chances of getting another top driver will be seriously limited. If Alonso leaves, they won't get Hamilton, Vettel, or Raikonnen, and none of the new Next Best Thing would pick them either.
If Button comes back that's another year of being taken seriously and people bothering to show their interviews instead of Sauber. Without Button and Alonso they'd be fighting Williams to get drivers.
cgt2 said:
I hadn't seen that, and Alonso and Webber are mates. But it would contradict everything Alonso has said on multiple occasions when asked this question.
I thought, but may be very wrong, that he'd said in press conferences that if the car was not good he would think about what to do as he needed to be in a strong/winning car next season...Trabi601 said:
Can understand why McLaren have done this - Vandoorne is very much unproven and they could be stuck with a lame duck in their car - having been caught out by Perez and Magnussen in recent years, it makes sense to have a decent plan B.
Meh, McLaren are quickly losing any right to be picky over drivers. Perez is hot property, and too good for them now. I bet he wouldn't go back if they asked him.McLaren are bloody lucky to have Vandoorne on the books at this point.
Edited by RenOHH on Saturday 3rd September 22:06
cgt2 said:
I hadn't seen that, and Alonso and Webber are mates. But it would contradict everything Alonso has said on multiple occasions when asked this question.
Webber tweeted this after it was announced.....Mark Webber on Twitter: ".@McLarenF1 covering their bums with @alo_oficial mind set going forward.....
ewenm said:
JB gets paid to develop the car and "mentor" SvD, train for triathlons, probably do punditry for SkyF1, generally set up a F1 management career if he wants it. McLaren get backup in case FA leaves or SvD doesn't perform.
And McLaren / sponsors get a very media-friendly front man for English and Japanese speaking markets, which is likely to be important in keeping said sponsors more contented despite lack of performance recently.lee_fr200 said:
If the car isn't competitive in 2017 and Alonso walks jb could end up in a championship contender in 2018 let's be honest!
How old was mansell and hill when they won wdc
36 for Hill. My memory of Mansell is sadly when he came back later and was rather poor. From what Alonso has said about the V6T cars, though, they don't seem to be the same physically draining machines of ten years ago, so maybe they can be driven into your 40's. How old was mansell and hill when they won wdc
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