Jenson Button's future...?

[Vaud]

I expect he will stay. Like KR, I suspect Button would take a pay cut / pay per points contract to stay in F1 given the other seats are limited.

[coetzeeh]

Watching JB's post race (justifiable) comments and demeanour I think he already knows he won't be racing for McLaren next year.

[Smollet]

coetzeeh said:

Watching JB's post race (justifiable) comments and demeanour I think he already knows he won't be racing for McLaren next year.

Yes I think you're right in that assumption. He's been bordering on being undiplomatic a few times which is most unlike him.

[Alex Langheck]

Been a wasted year for him. He should have moved from F1 last season - and taken the Porsche WEC drive, if it's true he was offered it. Would love to see him in the WEC, even SuperGT in Japan, they are proper racing cars.

[sirtyro]

You don't think Ron owes both Jenson and Alonso a year with a better car then what they have now?

He's already said that JB has a 2 year contract and hinted that they would be taking that option because of how well they have endured this year. I think thats why they are both still publicly backing the team and why they still harp on about being in it all together and how bright the future is.

[DKL]

Bottas and Massa to stay at Williams next year according to the BBC so its McLaren or nothing it seems.

[Smollet]

DKL said:

Bottas and Massa to stay at Williams next year according to the BBC so its McLaren or nothing it seems.

Haas?

[onyx39]

Smollet said:

DKL said:

Bottas and Massa to stay at Williams next year according to the BBC so its McLaren or nothing it seems.

Haas?

Would you move to a team in it's first year after the year he's had with McLaren?
I'd sooner hang up my driving gloves.

[RobGT81]

onyx39 said:

Would you move to a team in it's first year after the year he's had with McLaren?
I'd sooner hang up my driving gloves.

Haas will do well next year, pretty much a customer Ferrari.

[Vaud]

onyx39 said:

Would you move to a team in it's first year after the year he's had with McLaren?
I'd sooner hang up my driving gloves.

A McLaren that might be at the back of the field or a Haas fully supported by Ferrari (with all the unrestricted wind tunnel time, etc).

I'll take the Ferrari.

[lee_fr200]

Eric has said in a interview that atm and next year having rookie drivers would damage their progress and he would be happy to keep alonso and Jenson next year but I suppose it isn't his decision

[Schermerhorn]

RobGT81 said:

onyx39 said:

Would you move to a team in it's first year after the year he's had with McLaren?
I'd sooner hang up my driving gloves.

Haas will do well next year, pretty much a customer Ferrari.

Unless they're getting a 2015 spec Ferrari I'd say they're going to be between Marussia and Sauber. If they have a good and experienced driver line up they should score points too unless their car is hopeless.

Don't see why Button would want to go to a back of the grid team. They wouldn't be able to pay his salary of around £10m a year and I can't see him taking a pay cut just to stay in F1 because (a) he isn't that desperate just to stay in F1 (b) I think he has more dignity than that.


New teams need paying drivers. Maybe Maldanado could go there......? Though with his repair bill cost, he'd probably bankrupt them.

[onyx39]

Williams have apparently confirmed they are retaining current lineup, so not going there.

[VolvoT5]

Jenson is basically at the mercy of Ron Dennis now.... well maybe the power struggle between Ron and the other major shareholders that might prefer to keep Jenson.

Then again does Jenson really want to sign up for another year of fannying around at the back of the grid? Surely he is desirable enough to get a competitive drive in a different series.

[Fonz]

IIRC did Red Bull sign DC because they wanted an experienced driver to come into the team to help take them forward with how they operated. From the party animals who did a bit of racing to 4 times world champions. OK it also helped that A Newey was brought on board as well but then I think that DC had a major role in that as well.

So would Hass put JB in the lead car to help get the team up and running? It's not going to give JB a last trip to the podium but it might be a stepping stone into a post F1 career, unless he goes off to do the WEC or some other racing, maybe rally cross.

[RobGT81]

Schermerhorn said:

Unless they're getting a 2015 spec Ferrari I'd say they're going to be between Marussia and Sauber. If they have a good and experienced driver line up they should score points too unless their car is hopeless.

I think, depending on their drivers, they will up there fighting amongst Williams and Red Bull

[Smollet]

Boullier now saying they intend to keep Button.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120626

[MartG]

Smollet said:

Boullier now saying they intend to keep Button.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120626

A pity that McLaren don't have the cash to run a B team a la Toro Rosso

[Smollet]

MartG said:

A pity that McLaren don't have the cash to run a B team a la Toro Rosso

If customer cars were permitted they could do so. I don't have a problem with customer teams but think it should be limited to say three so there's still a need for chassis manufacturers.