McLaren to win the 2016 Championship

[mollytherocker]

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

I think they have something special for next year.

I am putting money on it.

[jammy_basturd]

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

1. Money.
2. They won't get a seat at another half decent team.

[glazbagun]

PW said:

"I think they have something special for next year.

I am putting money on it." -Everyone, 2014

This was me (except for the money bit). I interpreted their poor 2014 as being due to the stellar car they must be developing for 2015. Won't make that mistake this year!

[mollytherocker]

Gaz. said:

Go on then.

£10 to the charity of your choice that Mclaren are not WCC next year.

My charity of choice is Moorfields eye hospital:

http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/content/moorfields-ey...

OK, deal! My charity is;

https://www.ataxia.org.uk/

[kambites]

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

Perhaps because they're being paid an awful lot of money to do so? If someone offered me £10m+ to drive a Mclaren for a year I wouldn't be overly concerned if it was a bit slow.

I think there's a genuine risk they'll be last next year with, Manor getting Mercedes engines. More likely that they'll be hovering around the back of the mid-field again, though.

Edited by kambites on Friday 9th October 11:39

[m444ttb]

Are there any published odds from the big bookmakers for a. McLaren winning a race, b. McLaren winning the championship (got to be worth £1!) and c. McLaren finishing dead last in the constructors having been overturned by Manor-Mercedes and Hass-Ferrari? I'd suggest c. is more likely than a. which is quite sad.

On a related note did anyone see Manor's Twitter response to an Alonso quote about their Mercedes power (something about they could stick an aeroplane engine in there and it wouldn't be fast)?

[RYH64E]

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

Because they're under contract and there are no seats available at Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull or Williams?

Even if Honda get their engine sorted for next season, and I doubt that they will, I still can't see McLaren even getting podiums, they're too far behind.

[thegreenhell]

I'd read this before placing any money on anything...

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/exclusive-hon...

[andyps]

I'll be surprised if they win the WCC but think that they have something better for 2016 or Button wouldn't be there. The Mark Hughes article implies they have a chance if they get the changes made in time, but there is a risk. Isn't that always the case?

[naboo]

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?
.

Topping up the pension funds, no other options available although I'd be surprised if Alonso's not made an attempt to escape to Renualt. Maybe this McLaren contract's made of tougher stuff than the last one.

[anonymous-user]

thegreenhell said:

I'd read this before placing any money on anything...

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/exclusive-hon...

Ignore that, it's written by a guy who doesn't have the first idea about how a turbocharged engine works. He even gets the basics wrong on peak turbine speed allowed in the regs.

[aeropilot]

jammy_basturd said:

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

1. Money.
2. They won't get a seat at another half decent team.

This.

Only other option is retire from F1 (which is what I would have done and gone and done something more enjoyable than driving a dog of a MacHonda around at the back of the grid, which is I suspect what they will be still doing next year as well.
Honda haven't built a championship winning engine for over 1/4 of a century, and they aren't suddenly going to start now, or anytime in the next 2-3 years IMHO (or maybe even ever again)

[mollytherocker]

jammy_basturd said:

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

1. Money.
2. They won't get a seat at another half decent team.

Money? I really dont think thats their motivation. They are both very wealthy.

I think they want success and would have gone to WEC if it represented a better chance.

I truly believe that they know whats coming in 2016.

[Moobs]

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

I think they have something special for next year.

I am putting money on it.

Apart from the Global Financial Crisis. You do know why Honda sold the team that had the the following years championship 2009 WDC and WCC chassis right?













Because there engine was crap. Whoever though Honda would come back strong this year was bonkers. Honda wanted to return next year but were pushed into an early start by Mclaren.

[anonymous-user]

Are they not staying because they are under contract?

[rdjohn]

My guess the answer was yes for ALO - he either drove for McLaren of no Motorsport at all.

With JB, there was clearly an issue with RD trying negotiate down the value of the second year of his contract, Only when RD said he would honour the contract in full at Suzuka, did he then agree.

He seems to have aspirations to WRX rather WEC at the moment. Perhaps this year's fee will help him set up a team next year.

[anonymous-user]

Moobs said:

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

I think they have something special for next year.

I am putting money on it.

Apart from the Global Financial Crisis. You do know why Honda sold the team that had the the following years championship 2009 WDC and WCC chassis right?














Because there engine was crap. Whoever though Honda would come back strong this year was bonkers. Honda wanted to return next year but were pushed into an early start by Mclaren.

That's quite true, the team couldn't believe their luck when they got the MB after the Honda. It's odd but they just don't seem to be able to cut it. Maybe because they seem determined to tread the untrodden paths.

And then again, McLaren haven't won championships many years when they've had race winning cars and big money. They'll be a very, very long shot for 2016 and further IMO.

[Teppic]

REALIST123 said:

Moobs said:

mollytherocker said:

Why would Alonso and Button continue?

I think they have something special for next year.

I am putting money on it.

Apart from the Global Financial Crisis. You do know why Honda sold the team that had the the following years championship 2009 WDC and WCC chassis right?














Because there engine was crap. Whoever though Honda would come back strong this year was bonkers. Honda wanted to return next year but were pushed into an early start by Mclaren.

That's quite true, the team couldn't believe their luck when they got the MB after the Honda. It's odd but they just don't seem to be able to cut it. Maybe because they seem determined to tread the untrodden paths.

And then again, McLaren haven't won championships many years when they've had race winning cars and big money. They'll be a very, very long shot for 2016 and further IMO.

I read in an interview with Ross Brawn somewhere that he reckoned that the Honda engine in 2008 was at least 70bhp down on the Mercedes. And quite a lot heavier. And not nearly as fuel efficient.

Much like this years engine...

[aeropilot]

Only people that still believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy (or blinked, die hard Honda fan boys) believe that Honda are going to deliver a championship winning engine in 2016...or 2017.

[BoRED S2upid]

Never going to happen you just can't turn it around so much in one season anymore. Look at Ferrari they are a lot closer to Merc but not at every track. For McLaren to win they would have to dominate at every track and beat Merc and Ferrari I don't think a) they will have the engine, b) that they will have the chassis for every track and c) that Alonso and Button are better than Ham / Rosberg or Vet/kimi.