Jenson Button's future...?

[tenpenceshort]

Lincsblokey said:

Having worked for a japanese company, in motorsport, and visited HRD a fair few times, i can say thats actually not correct.

Honda have nothing but the highest possible regard for Jenson, in fact they were more than happy when he won the WDC

If given the chance to sign a driver more likely to get good results, do you think Honda would A) Decline to sign them because they like Jenson Button or B) Send Button packing despite their history because he is less likely to get results.

The Japanese are many things, but they're not normally sentimental. F1 is not sentimental. Button's history with Honda is irrelevant when looking for success next season.

[Emeye]

tenpenceshort said:

If given the chance to sign a driver more likely to get good results, do you think Honda would A) Decline to sign them because they like Jenson Button or B) Send Button packing despite their history because he is less likely to get results.

The Japanese are many things, but they're not normally sentimental. F1 is not sentimental. Button's history with Honda is irrelevant when looking for success next season.

Is Button not popular with the Japanese Public though? He could be a very good marketing choice for a Japanese company.

[tenpenceshort]

Why would Honda choose a less than optimal driver as a compromise to boost its reputation in its home market? Chucking a Japanese driver in there would do that. Putting a Chinese or South American driver, even better for brand building across the world.

Even better is getting a driver that will help ensure WDC wins, as nothing is going to market the company better than that.

Judge people by their actions; Honda and McLaren have been committed in partnership for many months. At any time, if Honda specifically wanted Button to stay, they could have made sure he was offered a contract. Yet here we are, getting towards the end of the season, Button without a contract for next year, and he has no such contract. If Honda respect and love Button as much as people say, even if they do offer him a contract, why leave it so late? Is that consistent with being so respectful of someone?

[Emeye]

tenpenceshort said:

Why would Honda choose a less than optimal driver as a compromise to boost its reputation in its home market? Chucking a Japanese driver in there would do that. Putting a Chinese or South American driver, even better for brand building across the world.

Even better is getting a driver that will help ensure WDC wins, as nothing is going to market the company better than that.

Judge people by their actions; Honda and McLaren have been committed in partnership for many months. At any time, if Honda specifically wanted Button to stay, they could have made sure he was offered a contract. Yet here we are, getting towards the end of the season, Button without a contract for next year, and he has no such contract. If Honda respect and love Button as much as people say, even if they do offer him a contract, why leave it so late? Is that consistent with being so respectful of someone?

Lots of driver have been chosen for their marketability - maybe not ideal, but it has happened - part of Perez being chosen was supposedly Vodafone wanting a South America driver to help their push in that region. In the end there are lots of reasons a driver is chosen, and it's not always just how great a driver they are.

[MGJohn]

Both the drivers and teams will hold on to the last moment to secure the best option. Human nature. The 'best' option may not be available now or ever. Button may not be the best option as viewed by some at any time, but, he could be the best option when most of the plans and contracts have been finalised for next season.

The 'fastest' or 'best' driver does not necessarily equate to the best option overall for the team.

Some of the suggested driver contract swaps on this thread are laughable.

Strictly on a selfish personal basis, I'd love to see either Vettel or Alonso, ideally both, drive for McLaren-Honda particularly if that team-engine partnership is successful straight out of the box. Cannot see either or both ever coming to pass. It would be a very interesting yardstick by which to judge those multiple WDCs.

Five seasons with a top team and drawing a blank or securing several WDCs means a lot when discussing driver costs and terms.

[anonymous-user]

Why does anyone think Button would want to race a Honda engined car again? The engine was one of, if not the biggest, shortcoming the last time he drove one.

[onyx39]

REALIST123 said:

Why does anyone think Button would want to race a Honda engined car again? The engine was one of, if not the biggest, shortcoming the last time he drove one.

Button was quoted xa saying about a year ago iirc that he wanted to finish his career at McLaren, presumably, he would have had some idea about the Honda connection then, not saying that is the reason he said it, more that he would have known it was on the cards.

[thegreenhell]

Emeye said:

Lots of driver have been chosen for their marketability - maybe not ideal, but it has happened - part of Perez being chosen was supposedly Vodafone wanting a South America driver to help their push in that region. In the end there are lots of reasons a driver is chosen, and it's not always just how great a driver they are.

Geography is not their strong suit then if they think Mexico is in South America.

[marshall100]

The only stumbling block at present for JB would be his salary expectations. I'm sure if it gets to the point where he has to take a pay cut or find the door, his salary will adjust itself accordingly. As has been said, at the the moment it's all a load of flanel to get the best deal possible, Alonso is about as likely to get the drive as I am.

[Vaud]

marshall100 said:

The only stumbling block at present for JB would be his salary expectations. I'm sure if it gets to the point where he has to take a pay cut or find the door, his salary will adjust itself accordingly. As has been said, at the the moment it's all a load of flanel to get the best deal possible, Alonso is about as likely to get the drive as I am.

For 2015 I agree. 2016, however... will be many top drivers watching the opening season of Honda engines.

Contract "options" is probably the keyword for this year.

[rubystone]

klunkT5 said:

Fact is both Hamilton and Alonso have had decent kit for many years and between them, only delivered three WDCs. Button had decent kit for half a season and delivered!

If JB was in a Mercedes this year i wouldnt be suprised if he was leading the WDC by a big margin.

Edited by klunkT5 on Friday 29th August 15:37

Edited by klunkT5 on Friday 29th August 15:37

Or Vettel, or Hulkenberg, or Grosjean or Alonso, or.....I think you get my point....

[rubystone]

tenpenceshort said:

How does that relate to what I said?

My point is that Button's history with Honda doesn't count for much with them when deciding who they would like to drive for McLaren.

I agree fwiw.

[Kraken]

entropy said:

Lies and God damn statistics.

Had his been in the right place the stats would back up the view LH as the better driver.

And of course during their time together JB never got taken out by other drivers, had his wheel fall off, had blanking plates left in his radiators, had his exhaust break etc etc. Not to mention that he drove most of his first season in a car that didn't actually fit him.

Besides who knows when a technical issue isn't caused by the driver doing something wrong. Hamilton moaned about his discs glazing over at Spa but, as pointed out by ex-F1 drivers, that only happens when the driver fails to warm them properly. Hamilton never strikes me as someone who is fully aware of the technicalities of his car unlike someone like Button, Vettel or Alonso.

Personally I'd drop Button for Alonso as he's the best there is by a long margin but I don't think there is anyone around at the moment who could do a better job other than that.

[wevster]

rubystone said:

Fact is both Hamilton and Alonso have had decent kit for many years and between them, only delivered three WDCs. Button had decent kit for half a season and delivered!
If JB was in a Mercedes this year i wouldnt be suprised if he was leading the WDC by a big margin.

One could argue that Jenson had the best car for the whole season as Rubans was winning in the latter half on the season. In fact Jensen came 3rd in his last race so the car can't have been that bad.

Edited by wevster on Monday 1st September 15:01

[hdrflow]

A good driver, or a driver for which people have a lot more respect, can make a difference if not for just being able to extract whatever performance the car has. The team is left with no doubts as to how the car is performing. There's also a moral issue where everyone can rally behind a personality.

As an example I think Williams improvement is also due to the driver lineup. Bottas has come of age and Massa can provide a lot of experience. They wouldn't be the same if Maldonado was still partnering Bottas.

As for Button I just don't think people think about him the same as they did a few years ago when he won the championship. Sometimes a change is needed and McLaren should change the drivers. Not really convinced about Magnussen but wasn't about Ricciardo either and look at him now!

If I was Jenson I'd retire. It's unlikely he's going to win another championship and I'm sure life can be interesting in other ways for him.

EDIT: to add some better meaning of what I was trying to say.

Edited by hdrflow on Monday 1st September 15:27

[Kickstart]

I have it on good authority that he's going to open a caravan park in Rhyl and do a bit of window cleaning on the side

[deadslow]

I wish all the really good drivers who are about to retire were contractually obliged to spend a year in a Minardi/Marussia. It would give the small teams a boost and could be a laugh.

[Muzzer79]

wevster said:

rubystone said:

Fact is both Hamilton and Alonso have had decent kit for many years and between them, only delivered three WDCs. Button had decent kit for half a season and delivered!
If JB was in a Mercedes this year i wouldnt be suprised if he was leading the WDC by a big margin.

One could argue that Jenson had the best car for the whole season as Rubans was winning in the latter half on the season. In fact Jensen came 3rd in his last race so the car can't have been that bad.

That's quite a simplistic view.

Jenson won 6 out of the first 7 races in 2009, only missing out in China because of rain.

Barrichello won 2 out of the last 7 races (both in August/September) and wasn't exactly challenging for the others.

The Brawn was certainly not the best car in the second half of 2009, whichever way you look at it.
It wasn't bad - they were both regularly in the points, but the best car it was not.

[rubystone]

Muzzer79 said:

wevster said:

rubystone said:

Fact is both Hamilton and Alonso have had decent kit for many years and between them, only delivered three WDCs. Button had decent kit for half a season and delivered!
If JB was in a Mercedes this year i wouldnt be suprised if he was leading the WDC by a big margin.

One could argue that Jenson had the best car for the whole season as Rubans was winning in the latter half on the season. In fact Jensen came 3rd in his last race so the car can't have been that bad.

That's quite a simplistic view.

Jenson won 6 out of the first 7 races in 2009, only missing out in China because of rain.

Barrichello won 2 out of the last 7 races (both in August/September) and wasn't exactly challenging for the others.

The Brawn was certainly not the best car in the second half of 2009, whichever way you look at it.
It wasn't bad - they were both regularly in the points, but the best car it was not.

Just want to say that I didn't say this...I simply failed miserably to add the correct quotes in my re-quote....

[MGJohn]

deadslow said:

I wish all the really good drivers who are about to retire were contractually obliged to spend a year in a Minardi/Marussia. It would give the small teams a boost and could be a laugh.

That is a brilliant idea.