Jensons future

[Nigel_O]

Anyone considered that the real reason for the unusual sabbatical is that Maclaren don't want Jenson moving to another midfield team (Williams, or maybe FI if Perez moves) and deploying his considerable knowledge to develop a competitor car?

I'm hoping that the sabbatical also allows him to pursue other Motorsport interests - would be brilliant to see him in WEC

[Blayney]

Nigel_O said:

Anyone considered that the real reason for the unusual sabbatical is that Maclaren don't want Jenson moving to another midfield team (Williams, or maybe FI if Perez moves) and deploying his considerable knowledge to develop a competitor car?

I'm hoping that the sabbatical also allows him to pursue other Motorsport interests - would be brilliant to see him in WEC

Just came to post this thought. It feels like gardening leave.

[Crafty_]

Nigel_O said:

Anyone considered that the real reason for the unusual sabbatical is that Maclaren don't want Jenson moving to another midfield team (Williams, or maybe FI if Perez moves) and deploying his considerable knowledge to develop a competitor car?

I'm hoping that the sabbatical also allows him to pursue other Motorsport interests - would be brilliant to see him in WEC

Knowing ron, I expect that is part of it too.

I can't see him being able to do that, Reserve drivers have to be at each race, go to driver briefings etc. A job in TV more likely.
Besides, as has been said several times there are no spaces in WEC.

[gruffalo]

Crafty_ said:

Nigel_O said:

Anyone considered that the real reason for the unusual sabbatical is that Maclaren don't want Jenson moving to another midfield team (Williams, or maybe FI if Perez moves) and deploying his considerable knowledge to develop a competitor car?

I'm hoping that the sabbatical also allows him to pursue other Motorsport interests - would be brilliant to see him in WEC

Knowing ron, I expect that is part of it too.

I can't see him being able to do that, Reserve drivers have to be at each race, go to driver briefings etc. A job in TV more likely.
Besides, as has been said several times there are no spaces in WEC.

Is he a reserve driver though? The job description I have seen is as an ambassador for McLaren and what a great role for him after all who doesn't like Jenson.

I am not sure he wanted a drive for next year, lots of change in his life recently, dad dies and split from wife and long term girlfriend. This job gives him time, travel with all his mates and enjoy the F1 circus but without the pressure.

I think this is why he didn't say yes to Williams, if he had wanted a drive then he had one on offer but I think he wanted to take a step back and enjoy the party.

[swisstoni]

Jenson is fairly diplomatic but isnt great at hiding his feelings IMHO. If he was heartbroken I think we'd be able to tell.
I truly believe that, although he'd prefer to be driving next year, he's going to use the opportunity to take stock of his life so far and do things he hasn't been able to do as a full time F1 driver for a very long time.

Edited by swisstoni on Wednesday 7th September 10:07

[Crafty_]

gruffalo said:

Is he a reserve driver though? The job description I have seen is as an ambassador for McLaren and what a great role for him after all who doesn't like Jenson.

I am not sure he wanted a drive for next year, lots of change in his life recently, dad dies and split from wife and long term girlfriend. This job gives him time, travel with all his mates and enjoy the F1 circus but without the pressure.

I think this is why he didn't say yes to Williams, if he had wanted a drive then he had one on offer but I think he wanted to take a step back and enjoy the party.

Yes he is reserve driver, he will drive if Alonso or Stoffel are unavailable next year, at least thats what the team said "Jenson will be available to drive in 2017".
They no longer have a reserve driver because Stoffel will have a race seat.

He didn't get to say yes (or no) to Williams, there seems to have been no offer on the table. Besides, I very much doubt he would entertain it given they wouldn't be able to get anywhere near the Mclaren salary.

Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 4th September 11:36

[Quickmoose]

Alot of crap being written here using the word 'dignity'.
A WDC, and a real character amongst fairly dull media-savvy types on the grid.
Thoroughly likeable and diplomatic.
Has spent his life travelling the world living the high life, training hard, enjoying 'sport', now gets paid to keep fit, do other stuff, dip his toe back in if required, have an option on 2018, still travelling the world and looking at all kinds of opportunities.

I think he'd laugh his socks off, reading comments about his 'dignity' status, from us keyboard warriors...

[AXlawrence]

Won't try and dig it up now but I'm sure Jenson has said before that WEC doesn't appeal to him? And also, yeah, it looks harder to get into than F1. I can imagine only an LMP1 factory team would do and they're all taken.

[kimducati]

Quickmoose said:

Alot of crap being written here using the word 'dignity'.
A WDC, and a real character amongst fairly dull media-savvy types on the grid.
Thoroughly likeable and diplomatic.
Has spent his life travelling the world living the high life, training hard, enjoying 'sport', now gets paid to keep fit, do other stuff, dip his toe back in if required, have an option on 2018, still travelling the world and looking at all kinds of opportunities.

I think he'd laugh his socks off, reading comments about his 'dignity' status, from us keyboard warriors...

Yes that!!
Kim

[thegreenhell]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/three...

Jenson Button at Monza post-qualifying: “In the summer break I had a pretty awesome time with friends and family - living on my schedule, which is something I haven’t done for 17 years. In Formula 1 there are Grands Prix and everything else is either recovery or preparation. I came to the decision I wanted to initiate talks with Ron in Spa and ever since we’ve been talking about the future and I can tell you I have a two year contract with McLaren-Honda. Next year I will be an ambassador for this team, I will work with this team to make it a better team for the future in every way that I can. I will do sim work, stay current, train my arse off, and also be attending a lot of races. Also doing a lot of stuff I haven’t done for 17 years, get up when I want, do what I want spend more time with my friends and family. I’m also an avid fan of triathlons so I want to do that. I am taking a break for 2017 but for 2018 the team have an option on me to race.”

[rscott]

Interview with Claire Williams just now on Sky was quite interesting - pretty obvious she wanted Jenson back for one last drive..

The full Jenson interview was also enlightening. It shows he still loves F1, but needs a break. As he said, he's been in F1 for 17 years and needs time to do something else...

[Daz68]

I was dreading this news but knew it would come at some point. I really cant get excited about following any of the drivers on the grid at the moment. I know it will be a miracle but I hope he has one last go in 2018.

[AMD87]

AXlawrence said:

Won't try and dig it up now but I'm sure Jenson has said before that WEC doesn't appeal to him? And also, yeah, it looks harder to get into than F1. I can imagine only an LMP1 factory team would do and they're all taken.

He is very much interested in WEC he was going to sign a contract with Nissan before McLaren offered him one.

[lee_fr200]

I bet he's laughing all the way to the bank

Both jb and Ron stated there were multiple offers and he's getting paid probably the same to have a year off! Wish my boss was that generous

[PhillipM]

lee_fr200 said:

5m to enjoy yourself for a year while no doubt Vandoorne will get a couple of mil


Dont think I'd say no to that

Just as the car is coming good and there's a big change in the formula next year that might shake the order up, whilst knowing that age is against him and if he takes a year out likely he'll never come back?

Sounds more like a shove out the door with a retainer to stop him going elsewhere.

[Rich_W]

thegreenhell said:

... I’m also an avid fan of triathlons so I want to do that...

He'll be going all out to qualify for the Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4HtDAum4aU

Though to be fair I think he already qualified one year but couldn't go as there was his day job that weekend. Alex Zanardi did it a while ago on his hand cycle and wheelchair

[Vocal Minority]

rscott said:

Interview with Claire Williams just now on Sky was quite interesting - pretty obvious she wanted Jenson back for one last drive..

The full Jenson interview was also enlightening. It shows he still loves F1, but needs a break. As he said, he's been in F1 for 17 years and needs time to do something else...

We all talk about him wanting to stay racing - but he has been doing it for 17 seasons. A child born on his debut, will be learning to drive shortly after his 'sabatical' - if the results aren't coming it really isn't beyond imagination that he is bored with the BS I am sure is still tolerable for younger drivers/bearable if you are still winning.

It really isn't a significant leap in imagination to think he may want to have a rest - but keep an option open (no matter how long a shot it is)

[skwdenyer]

Vocal Minority said:

rscott said:

Interview with Claire Williams just now on Sky was quite interesting - pretty obvious she wanted Jenson back for one last drive..

The full Jenson interview was also enlightening. It shows he still loves F1, but needs a break. As he said, he's been in F1 for 17 years and needs time to do something else...

We all talk about him wanting to stay racing - but he has been doing it for 17 seasons. A child born on his debut, will be learning to drive shortly after his 'sabatical' - if the results aren't coming it really isn't beyond imagination that he is bored with the BS I am sure is still tolerable for younger drivers/bearable if you are still winning.

It really isn't a significant leap in imagination to think he may want to have a rest - but keep an option open (no matter how long a shot it is)

In his early days, he was racing against Jos Verstappen; now he's racing against Max. That puts thing in perspective

Let's not forget that along the way he's had a few long-term relationships that didn't last, one which turned into a marriage that definitely didn't last, and he's lost his much-loved Dad. Taking a pause and taking stock don't seem like dishonourable things to do.

[wevster]

Nice way to spin being dropped for Vandoorne.

Yes of course it was his decision to take a sabbatical...

[rubystone]

lee_fr200 said:

I'm well fked off tbh!

I also don't get it, is he a reserve driver? As it just says they have a 3 driver line up! What's his actual role?
Is this if Vandoorne is crap they can toss him to one side? If Alonso quits the drive is jensons?

I just don't get what his actual role will be

And there was me thinking you had the inside track with all your confident predictions. I even thought about calling Caroline Goddard' to see whether she had a mate named Lee who had been blabbing on the Internet

The only reason the announcement was made when it was was because Massa made his announcement. Over at Williams, my money is on Nasr with a 1+1 at Grove next year with Stroll as reserve. Option then to promote Stroll in 2018. Makes sense to announce that in Austin.

And yes, you're at least correct about one thing - this allows RD to cover his bases. But I believe that the Button deal for 2018 is simply a tactic to apply pressure on Alonso. The latter clearly wants Rosberg's seat for 2018.