Welcome back Jenson?

[Abe007]

Keep button at McLaren Please. He's proved his worth and has a lot left in that tank, Ffs anyone can see this

[007 VXR]

Abe007 said:

Keep button at McLaren Please. He's proved his worth and has a lot left in that tank, Ffs anyone can see this

+1

[egor110]

It's interesting the difference in bike racing and f1.

I moto gp all teams are trying to sign up riders in there teens , maybe not on the factory team bike but on a team running the same brand.

In f1 they don't seem to be as desperate to find the next young thing then keep hold of them for there career.

[007 VXR]

egor110 said:

It's interesting the difference in bike racing and f1.

I moto gp all teams are trying to sign up riders in there teens , maybe not on the factory team bike but on a team running the same brand.

In f1 they don't seem to be as desperate to find the next young thing then keep hold of them for there career.

Or is it teens have bigger balls these days ?

Would love a drive on a F1 car but fk getting on the back of a GP bike

[Agent Orange]

DanielSan said:

In which case Button will be in their 3rd entry for one race... Hardly a lucrative contract.

Not about the money though is it.

I'm clearing my diary for Le Mans next year.... Hopefully Spa too. Oh and the cherry on top would be Austin. Please be driving in Austin!!!!

[SeeFive]

Ok, let's look at this a slightly different way. All the top spots are filled - Merc, red bull, williams, fezza etc. so what is left is some (currently on 2014 form) midfield teams to take Fred on and McHonda.

Let's say Ron does not want Alonso, and never did. Surely he also doesn't want Fred, given his reputation as a good driver driving for a midfield team and hustling a bad car into competition with the new McHondas as they get up to speed.

So, he hangs it out till McHonda is the last game in town for Fred, leaves his 2 drivers in situ for 2015, Fred is too late to get into another seat and one of Rons competitors are weakened. Callous, but business is business for Ron and beating the competition is everything in F1.

Only a possibility, remote but given the axe Ron has to grind from 2007 and his businesslike competitive nature, there is a small percentage he could think that way.

[Mark-C]

SeeFive said:

Ok, let's look at this a slightly different way. All the top spots are filled - Merc, red bull, williams, fezza etc. so what is left is some (currently on 2014 form) midfield teams to take Fred on and McHonda.

Let's say Ron does not want Alonso, and never did. Surely he also doesn't want Fred, given his reputation as a good driver driving for a midfield team and hustling a bad car into competition with the new McHondas as they get up to speed.

So, he hangs it out till McHonda is the last game in town for Fred, leaves his 2 drivers in situ for 2015, Fred is too late to get into another seat and one of Rons competitors are weakened. Callous, but business is business for Ron and beating the competition is everything in F1.

Only a possibility, remote but given the axe Ron has to grind from 2007 and his businesslike competitive nature, there is a small percentage he could think that way.

I imagine Honda have more say than Ron given the sponsorship situation so it will be Alonso plus whoever else they can all afford ...

[Vocal Minority]

Henry Fiddleton said:

MG511 said:

Peugeot? Do you mean beat Toyota? Peugeot pulled out of WEC years ago.

Doh! Yes, same colours and Ant behind the wheel.

Audi need a lead driver after TK retirement and a full attack in the WEC (there is more than Le Mans!)

No they don't, Duval and Di Grassi are great drivers and in my opinion the Lotterer/Fassler/Treluyererrrrreyer combo is possibly the quickest in WEC. 3 Le Mans wins in 4 - not sure Audi will be totally rudderless without TK

[enjo]

Lee Mckenzie tweeted that JB had said on Danish TV that he enjoyed working with KM but whatever happens he will not be racing with him again...

- Link https://twitter.com/LeeMcKenzieTV/status/536841853...

[Likes Fast Cars]

Ron & Slime Boy, a pair of arrogant wkers who deserve each other:

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/driver-reunion-c...

[groomi]

I can't believe that McLaren have played this out intentionally, because here they are putting the very first miles on the Honda engine and neither of this seasons drivers are in it to give valuable comparison against the Merc engine - and most likely nor is one of next season's drivers meaning they'll have less experience of the new engine than would have been possible.

[Likes Fast Cars]

groomi said:

I can't believe that McLaren have played this out intentionally, because here they are putting the very first miles on the Honda engine and neither of this seasons drivers are in it to give valuable comparison against the Merc engine - and most likely nor is one of next season's drivers meaning they'll have less experience of the new engine than would have been possible.

As they said on the BBC commentary on Sunday, the drivers are all contracted until the end of the year (I assume they have their facts right, and from what I know I understand that to be correct). In which case McL should be using the current drivers (or at least one of them) to do as you say.... it really does seem McLaren have lost it, it's a strategic and a PR disaster.

[simonpeter]

It does look like McLaren have lost the plot. I know Kevin is a new boy but F1 has always been a results based sport, not only has JB scored more than double his points tally, both Force India drivers have finished ahead of him too.

[Vocal Minority]

Likes Fast Cars said:

groomi said:

I can't believe that McLaren have played this out intentionally, because here they are putting the very first miles on the Honda engine and neither of this seasons drivers are in it to give valuable comparison against the Merc engine - and most likely nor is one of next season's drivers meaning they'll have less experience of the new engine than would have been possible.

As they said on the BBC commentary on Sunday, the drivers are all contracted until the end of the year (I assume they have their facts right, and from what I know I understand that to be correct). In which case McL should be using the current drivers (or at least one of them) to do as you say.... it really does seem McLaren have lost it, it's a strategic and a PR disaster.

Whatever McLaren do it would be derided as PR and strategic disaster. If they ran one of the drivers there would but outcries

[Prancing Hippo]

I wonder if Mclaren PR bods read these forums and what they make of it, and if is has any impact what, based on the PH forum at least, the overwhelming majority of bristish public / McLaren fans want...?

[rigga]

Prancing Hippo said:

I wonder if Mclaren PR bods read these forums and what they make of it, and if is has any impact what, based on the PH forum at least, the overwhelming majority of bristish public / McLaren fans want...?

Pretty sure they read their Facebook page though, and the comments on there are very uncomplimentary and that's putting it mildly.

[Likes Fast Cars]

rigga said:

Prancing Hippo said:

I wonder if Mclaren PR bods read these forums and what they make of it, and if is has any impact what, based on the PH forum at least, the overwhelming majority of bristish public / McLaren fans want...?

Pretty sure they read their Facebook page though, and the comments on there are very uncomplimentary and that's putting it mildly.

Ron did mention the PR and social media fallout when he was interviewed, which makes it all the worse 'cause he then continued with his trademark Ron-speak and inserted his foot further into his mouth.
What is clear is they have no damage limitation plan.
I juts need to see which I'll really get behind from 2015 onwards; I like Lewis, so Merc is possible, but I like DR (but hate Helmut).
McLaren are definitely on the nose with me as I detest (make that despise, no hate, whichever is strongest) the Slimy Spaniard so much that words cannot convey it.

[Some Gump]

^I'm used to the PH payment to post, but are you on the new scheme of payment per exclamation mark? Seems like it can be lucrative at the end of a season..

[Norfolkit]

groomi said:

I can't believe that McLaren have played this out intentionally, because here they are putting the very first miles on the Honda engine and neither of this seasons drivers are in it to give valuable comparison against the Merc engine - and most likely nor is one of next season's drivers meaning they'll have less experience of the new engine than would have been possible.

Vandoorne is doing all of the testing, maybe one of next years drivers is getting experience.

[LDM]

Maybe Alonso will be a development driver or just driving one of the trucks - although looking at the recent McLaren cars this might be a quicker option.

I always quite liked Alonso as a driver although I am not sure if he really is better than other drivers. These days it is down to having a superior car which for me waters down the championships - to some degree this has always been the case but just seems worse these days.

JB has proved he can drag a hopeless car round as well as anyone and even get it to finish higher than it deserves too. He can also win a championship in a good car not just one that that is miles ahead of the other cars for the whole season.

Alonso has done a similar thing for Ferrari and they have finished one place higher in constructors championship so has he done a better job? Is this where McLaren aspire to be?

I'm not convinced Alonso will be happy with another couple of seasons in the wilderness while McLaren put a good package together, so they better get it right first time or we will be seeing another tantrum / walkout!

Edited by LDM on Tuesday 25th November 10:43