Welcome back Jenson?

Welcome back Jenson?

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Discussion

andyps

7,817 posts

281 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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EskimoArapaho said:
Odd; you think you know me better than I do? Even odder: the audience figures show I'm in the majority.

Face facts: if JB goes off to any other branch of motorsport, he will simply disappear off the radar of most F1 watchers.
Personal choice is fine, and if that is the case for you then so be it. However, you can't use the audience figures as a basis for how entertaining people find other forms of motorsport. In overall terms it is all about exposure on TV, look at what has happened to F1 viewing figures in countries where it has gone PPV only, and then consider that 260,000 people pay money each June to watch a race in the middle of France which has nothing to do with F1 - it is quite a lot more people than ever turn up to watch an F1 race live. Bernie has ensured that F1 is the series shown on TV and broadcasters haven't had a great deal of scope to show other series if they have had the rights to F1.

Agent Orange

2,194 posts

245 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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EskimoArapaho said:
On the other hand, I'm rather annoyed that his management wasn't already having meaningful discussions with other teams earlier in the year.
It does make you wonder what his management team were doing. You'd think at Jenson's age they'd aim to secure an extension at the earliest opportunity or look for other drives. Of course it's entirely possible they've been working tirelessly behind the scenes but right now finding a drive for a highly salaried ex-WDC isn't easy in F1.

Those that have championship challenging cars and can afford already have drivers, those that have seats cannot afford and cannot offer a championship winning car.

EskimoArapaho said:
Face facts: if JB goes off to any other branch of motorsport, he will simply disappear off the radar of most F1 watchers.
Completely agree. Ask the general public to name a F1 driver and they'll give you a name. Ask them to name the current WEC or WRC champion and they won't have a clue. Do they all watch F1? Nope but they know who Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are.

Me I'll watch any motorsport I can find on the TV and try and go to at least one race event a year. MotoGP at Silverstone being the highlight event in 2014 although I did manage to catch some drag racing in Houston and a NASCAR event in Austin along with a drive straight off the plane in my hire car around the empty infield at COTA too!

swisstoni

16,850 posts

278 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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The way I see it is that Jenson is not going to go scrabbling around for a drive. If McLaren want him for another year, great. If not, well that's ok too.

I've slowly watched him being ground down at McLaren. If they could have given JB and LH a decent car we could have been in a golden age. Instead it's been a massive disappointment for him after finally climbing the greasy pole to a top team.

allergictocheese

1,290 posts

112 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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An angle that perhaps isn't being considered is Button's part in the current press. The current situation isn't the first or last time negotiations and decisions take place late in the day. It is not in McLaren's interest to put stories into the press about the state of negotiations between potentials.

Not much is being said about Magnussen or his situation, despite him being in the same boat.

So the question is, who's really stirring the pot? I suspect Button.

Mr_Yogi

3,278 posts

254 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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allergictocheese said:
An angle that perhaps isn't being considered is Button's part in the current press. The current situation isn't the first or last time negotiations and decisions take place late in the day. It is not in McLaren's interest to put stories into the press about the state of negotiations between potentials.

Not much is being said about Magnussen or his situation, despite him being in the same boat.

So the question is, who's really stirring the pot? I suspect Button.
Or could it be that the media (especially in the UK) doesn't really care about a Danish rookie who may or may not be around for their second year. Where as there is a lot more interest in a well liked British former WDC.

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Mr_Yogi said:
Or could it be that the media (especially in the UK) doesn't really care about a Danish rookie who may or may not be around for their second year. Where as there is a lot more interest in a well liked British former WDC.
yes How much coverage does Magnussen get in the Danish press? I'd think it was quite a bit.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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allergictocheese said:
So the question is, who's really stirring the pot? I suspect Button.
The press are stirring the pot.

thegreenhell

15,115 posts

218 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116956

Autosport said:
McLaren says Jenson Button's points and qualifying tally against Kevin Magnussen is still not enough to guarantee him a place alongside Fernando Alonso in 2015, as it ruled out Stoffel Vandoorne.

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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I have sympathy for both Jenson and Kevin. Button has scored more this year, but Magnussen has been very impressive for a rookie. 2nd on his debut race and some feisty drives.

Button is the safest bet, but Magnussen has more potential to grow. I hope they keep Button for one year and sign Kevin for 2016+17 after a sabbatical year as a development driver.

Honda's LMP1 project is on hold, but it would be good to see a McLaren influence in that project too....

HTP99

22,443 posts

139 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Magnussen impressive?

Apart from his first race he's been nowhere.

London424

12,826 posts

174 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Gaz. said:
So Mclaren have as good as confirmed Alonso then. Judging by that article it's only Ron who wants Magnussen as even Alonso wants Button in the team.
Ron know's he'd be a lot poorer without KMag money...in fact they are probably struggling to finance keeping Button anyway...hence the delay.

onyx39

11,109 posts

149 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Just a thought. JB has a shed load of cash, more than he will ever need.
Could Ron not offer him a reduction in pay, if JB is a true racer, its surely as much about the racing as the money?

DanielSan

18,747 posts

166 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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London424 said:
Ron know's he'd be a lot poorer without KMag money...in fact they are probably struggling to finance keeping Button anyway...hence the delay.
Given their struggle to get a title sponsor this seems the scenario Mclaren are in. But if you want a marketable driver then Button is still the better choice. It appears no one with a big fat pile of cash wants to be involved with Ron Dennis for some reason...

thegreenhell

15,115 posts

218 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Why don't they offer Fernando a lot less money instead? It's not like he has much bargaining power, what with their being no other seats available to him in F1.

rallycross

12,747 posts

236 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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thegreenhell said:
Why don't they offer Fernando a lot less money instead? It's not like he has much bargaining power, what with their being no other seats available to him in F1.
Exactly, Ron should work out how much it cost the company in 2008 when Alonso caused all that trouble with the FIA and deduct that from his salary offer (what it a $100m fine he got them?)

MissChief

7,095 posts

167 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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rallycross said:
Exactly, Ron should work out how much it cost the company in 2008 when Alonso caused all that trouble with the FIA and deduct that from his salary offer (what it a $100m fine he got them?)
I believe the fine was reduced on appeal.

Would Alonso have the balls to say no to a low ball offer from McLaren? he's got nowhere else to go. Unless it's already been signed?

LDM

372 posts

126 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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I suspect he has already signed as he seems quite smug and McLaren seem to be a bit desperate, they have probably realised they were a bit hasty to try to get him and are unlikely to get their money worth any time soon.

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Sorry late to this thread so this may not be exciting news but I've just heard from a respected source (albeit through an employee of that source) Jenson won't be in the seat as he's not bringing in enough money to the pot

Alonso is bringing money and will probably drive alongside a McLaren test driver.

Apparently it appears it's not simply about hiring the best drivers anymore......shame.

EskimoArapaho

5,135 posts

134 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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HoHoHo said:
Apparently it appears it's not simply about hiring the best drivers anymore......shame.
This must be part of it. Toto Wolff says the car is 90% and the driver is only 10%, and that's part of it, too.

Younger and younger drivers are being fast-tracked into F1: Vettel, Kvyat... now Verstappen. They cost peanuts on the wage bill, and even if a good newbie has say 3/4 of the skill of a seasoned driver like JB, you'd get 97.5% out of the car+driver combination, at a fraction of the cost.

So maybe older/waning Champions aren't going to be getting top rides anywhere in the future?

MissChief

7,095 posts

167 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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EskimoArapaho said:
This must be part of it. Toto Wolff says the car is 90% and the driver is only 10%, and that's part of it, too.

Younger and younger drivers are being fast-tracked into F1: Vettel, Kvyat... now Verstappen. They cost peanuts on the wage bill, and even if a good newbie has say 3/4 of the skill of a seasoned driver like JB, you'd get 97.5% out of the car+driver combination, at a fraction of the cost.

So maybe older/waning Champions aren't going to be getting top rides anywhere in the future?
And yet Honda have apparently insisting on Alonso or another star driver and the only one really available was Alonso as soon as they found out there was a chance he'd be released from his Ferrari contract?