Welcome back Jenson?

[DanielSan]

red_slr said:

I can see JB in F1 for another 3 years.

He could always do a big FU to Honda as well as Mclaren and join Nissan at Le Mans. They're due back next year. Fingers up to Honda by joining their rivals, fingers up to Mclaren with a couple of promo vids hooning a Nismo N-attack spec GTR against a 650s.

[benjj]

MissChief said:

His comment over the radio in the race after being told to stay out the lap prior had me in stitches. It will be a real shame to see him go.

Me too.

I think BBC / DC missed it though.

What I heard was him saying was along the lines of, "are you sure this time, nobody else you want to go first?" in a kind of pisstaking way.

DC chose to take it as him just making sure, they certainly didn't make anything of the comments (during the race)...

[RichB]

benjj said:

Me too. I think BBC / DC missed it though. What I heard was him saying was along the lines of, "are you sure this time, nobody else you want to go first?" in a kind of pisstaking way. DC chose to take it as him just making sure, they certainly didn't make anything of the comments (during the race)...

DC does lack any sense of humour doesn't he. Fortunately Brundle immediately saw it for what it was an laughed at it

[Swervin_Mervin]

DC did laugh at it in the highlights I watched

[red_slr]

onyx39 said:

At McLaren? Or in another car?

I don't think anyone will announce anything major until after the 5th Dec in Doha.

[LDM]

Rick_1138 said:

I think McLaren is suffering from Superstar-it is, with the assumption that an expensive name will sort out all the chassis and engine issues and magic them up a WDC WCC. Ill not hold my breath.

Well it worked for Ferrari, Oh sorry no it didn't my mistake!

[marshall100]

you have to wonder what was going on in Alonso's helmet as he fought his way past the Mclaren yesterday.

Good on JB for appearing to have an exit plan. He's better than the treatment he's received imo.

[Agent Orange]

marshall100 said:

you have to wonder what was going on in Alonso's helmet as he fought his way past the Mclaren yesterday.

Could it be that Marchinonne just doesn't like Alonso due to the way he handled himself in "spygate"? With his air cover of LdM now gone he just wants away from Marchionne?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formul...

Mosley said "Ferrari were understandably furious. I even had a lengthy call from Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne, who is someone to be taken seriously."

[LDM]

To be honest the situation with McLaren pretty much sums up the sad state of F1 at the moment' It all seems to be a bit of a joke with McLaren fighting to be the biggest clowns of all.

I was never a fan of McLaren although I respected them for what they achieved. Even when Senna (My favourite driver) was part of the team, I couldn't bring myself to support them but I seem to have mellowed during the JB years even though I would not have called myself a JB fan either, I just appreciated what he bought to the "sport".

Recently McLaren seem to be turning into something more like Ferrari at its worst, maybe that's why they want a driver who has failed in a Ferrari!

It seems a shame (for the sport) that these days you don't get competitive cars just a dominant one and that dictates the constructors / drivers championships. I saw the comment about LH winning 6 championships which I am sure is possible but only if he is in the best car. When LH started there was talk of him dominating for years but this simply hasn't been the case as his car wasn't up to it. Without the right car it doesn't matter how talented a driver is ultimately they are just making up the numbers!

I hope JB isn't finished in F1 but whatever happens I wish him the best and believe he should give Le Mans ago before he hangs up his helmet. If he did happen to win something like that as a former F1 champion he would be part of a very select and elite club.

[Europa1]

LDM said:

To be honest the situation with McLaren pretty much sums up the sad state of F1 at the moment' It all seems to be a bit of a joke with McLaren fighting to be the biggest clowns of all.

I was never a fan of McLaren although I respected them for what they achieved. Even when Senna (My favourite driver) was part of the team, I couldn't bring myself to support them but I seem to have mellowed during the JB years even though I would not have called myself a JB fan either, I just appreciated what he bought to the "sport".

Recently McLaren seem to be turning into something more like Ferrari at its worst, maybe that's why they want a driver who has failed in a Ferrari!

It seems a shame (for the sport) that these days you don't get competitive cars just a dominant one and that dictates the constructors / drivers championships. I saw the comment about LH winning 6 championships which I am sure is possible but only if he is in the best car. When LH started there was talk of him dominating for years but this simply hasn't been the case as his car wasn't up to it. Without the right car it doesn't matter how talented a driver is ultimately they are just making up the numbers!

I hope JB isn't finished in F1 but whatever happens I wish him the best and believe he should give Le Mans ago before he hangs up his helmet. If he did happen to win something like that as a former F1 champion he would be part of a very select and elite club.

Yep, sound points well made - McLaren this season seem to have developed (or returned to?) the sort of haughty arrogance often displayed by Ferrari. My only dufference is I am a JB fan - I think he is underrated as a driver, and as a person generally.

It is strange how one's perceptions change - when he was Team Principal at Lotus, I rather liked Gerard Boullier; this season I really have gone off the guy (and not just because of my liking for al things Lotus (and yes, I know the F1 team is not connected to the car company other than by name).

[LDM]

I agree I think he is underrated and sadly has only been in a dominant car once as opposed to some others who have been more fortunate also a big positive is that he is not worried about driving in a team where the other driver would be considered a threat or indeed superior!

Lotus were underdogs though and as we know we all love an underdog - maybe he will fit in at McLaren!

Sorry that's unfair I'm sure they will find there winning way again and maybe Alonso is the one to save them. JB is probably not as ruthless as he should have been.

Edited by LDM on Monday 3rd November 16:02

[burwoodman]

Rick_1138 said:

HTP99 said:

I wonder if JB has decided enough is enough and he can't wait around anymore for a decision regarding his McLaren future so has taken it into his own hands and has decided to jump ship before a decision has been made for him.

I do wonder if that's part of it.

I have been a fan of Cadbury's (Buttons) since he was in a Williams and always been my favourite driver and I hated it when he won in the Brawn and all anyone could ever moan about was 'it was all the car' yet when Schumacher in 04 or vettel in 11 won with similarly superior equipment, everyone says they are the greatest drivers ever and its just their ability, car had nowt to do with it, that pissed me off.

I also am not a huge fan of Hamilton as he was one of the first to come from the lower formulas and walk into the best car of the field straight away and almost won the championship on his first go, now I don't have anything personally against Hamilton, I just never liked this fawning over him like he was the second coming, he was a talented guy, but had the best stuff to play with, most folk coming into F1 totter about in ste cars but show a bit of sparkle that means they get into something better next time, see vettel and Monza 2008, but even the Torro Rosso of that year was a very good car.

Anyway, off topic. I will be very sad to see JB go, and I think McLaren is suffering from Superstar-it is, with the assumption that an expensive name will sort out all the chassis and engine issues and magic them up a WDC WCC. Ill not hold my breath.

If he does leave F1 compeltley, hopefully we will see him relaxing with Webber in the Porsche at LM where a real race series exists.

My Sky subscription may be in doubt if he goes tbh, though I wont get eurosport if I do that....hang on.

Imho Hamilton is a far better driver than Button. He is the best driver on the circuit.

[blueg33]

burwoodman said:

Imho Hamilton is a far better driver than Button. He is the best driver on the circuit.

At the risk of raising a well practised ph argument, what measure are you using to say that Hamilton is better than Button. Remember that when they both drove for the same team Button scored more points than Hamilton. Points are awarded for position in the race, therefore, over the season Button did better than Hamilton.

If I was a team principle, my driver choice would be based on who could win me the most points.......

[RichB]

blueg33 said:

At the risk of raising a well practised ph argument...

No risk - you just did it

[Crafty_]

blueg33 said:

At the risk of raising a well practised ph argument, what measure are you using to say that Hamilton is better than Button. Remember that when they both drove for the same team Button scored more points than Hamilton. Points are awarded for position in the race, therefore, over the season Button did better than Hamilton.

If I was a team principle, my driver choice would be based on who could win me the most points.......

Are you really suggesting that the guy with 2.5 more wins that his team mate this year would be turned down for Button ?

Button is gone, given his snarky remarks all weekend.

[LDM]

Possibly better although "far" is a bit strong and I suspect LH is one of the best but certainly dont think he has earned the right to be thought as the best.

[RichB]

Is snarky the in word?

[blueg33]

Crafty_ said:

blueg33 said:

At the risk of raising a well practised ph argument, what measure are you using to say that Hamilton is better than Button. Remember that when they both drove for the same team Button scored more points than Hamilton. Points are awarded for position in the race, therefore, over the season Button did better than Hamilton.

If I was a team principle, my driver choice would be based on who could win me the most points.......

Are you really suggesting that the guy with 2.5 more wins that his team mate this year would be turned down for Button ?

Button is gone, given his snarky remarks all weekend.

No

[blueg33]

RichB said:

blueg33 said:

At the risk of raising a well practised ph argument...

No risk - you just did it

Fun isn't it

[burwoodman]

blueg33 said:

burwoodman said:

Imho Hamilton is a far better driver than Button. He is the best driver on the circuit.

At the risk of raising a well practised ph argument, what measure are you using to say that Hamilton is better than Button. Remember that when they both drove for the same team Button scored more points than Hamilton. Points are awarded for position in the race, therefore, over the season Button did better than Hamilton.

If I was a team principle, my driver choice would be based on who could win me the most points.......

I think Hamilton gets a bit of a hard time. Probably because he is a bit immature and flashy and like to play the victim card. I just get the feeling Button is just turning up for a pay check and wouldn't do anything to take a real risk.