Are Brawn idiots for letting button go ?
Discussion
It would seem to me a massive mistake to let a proven Brawn driver to go in favour of Rosberg and a rumoured Heidfeld neither who have had a win between them ?
Why did they not keep Barri to support there efforts with his knowledge ? It really seems they thought that Button was staying and have just seriously cocked it up or they knew Mercedes were coming and as the new owners had to commit to their driver line up.
I can not really see Schuey returning so Heidfeld seems the probable driver.
With Brawn at the head I presumed the team would still challenge next year but I just cant see it now, hopefully the two Germans will prove me wrong and it will be a ding dong year for 2010.
Ferrari just don't seem to have the confidence next year so it looks like Mclaren and Red Bull will be the only major players, as much as the driver fight looks very exciting with Red Bull and Mclaren drivers and some unknowns the team effort now seems so much more formulaic.
Brawn shot in both feet before the season is up and running
Regards
TJ
Why did they not keep Barri to support there efforts with his knowledge ? It really seems they thought that Button was staying and have just seriously cocked it up or they knew Mercedes were coming and as the new owners had to commit to their driver line up.
I can not really see Schuey returning so Heidfeld seems the probable driver.
With Brawn at the head I presumed the team would still challenge next year but I just cant see it now, hopefully the two Germans will prove me wrong and it will be a ding dong year for 2010.
Ferrari just don't seem to have the confidence next year so it looks like Mclaren and Red Bull will be the only major players, as much as the driver fight looks very exciting with Red Bull and Mclaren drivers and some unknowns the team effort now seems so much more formulaic.
Brawn shot in both feet before the season is up and running
Regards
TJ
I really rate Rosberg, I think he was one of the best drivers last year given the equipment he had - compare his results to Nakajima.
Sadly I think Brawn will struggle next year, and so Rosberg again won't have an opportunity to shine. I hope he proves me wrong though, he really deserves a maiden race win.
Sadly I think Brawn will struggle next year, and so Rosberg again won't have an opportunity to shine. I hope he proves me wrong though, he really deserves a maiden race win.
It all depends on the driver line-up when the announcement comes. If it really is Rosberg/Heidfeld then it sounds like Mercedes are doing a Jaguar. After all, they've just lost not only the driver that won them the championship, but one that has been with the team for several years and has a great relationship with them. Plus they've also lost the man who helped them to the Constructor's title. Really makes no sense.
Edited by kevin ritson on Wednesday 18th November 14:07
Tony 1234 said:
I think it showed how much MB rated Jenson!
I'm having a mental block... MB?OK...i got it - Merc Benz - Sorry, i was being very slow and thinking of a person.
<- Third time I've had to use this today. I should get more sleep. I'll watch a re-run of the Valencia race.Edited by hondafanatic on Wednesday 18th November 14:12
No, Jenson is clever for having taken a better offer.
There was obviously loads of stuff going on behind the scenes, and Rubens was probably aware and got out sharpish (plus he probably wanted to be No1 in a team before he retires - whether the team were at the top or not).
As much as Im sure there was no real choice in this for Jenson, personally I think its a great move (regardless of Mcl current driver!).
There was obviously loads of stuff going on behind the scenes, and Rubens was probably aware and got out sharpish (plus he probably wanted to be No1 in a team before he retires - whether the team were at the top or not).
As much as Im sure there was no real choice in this for Jenson, personally I think its a great move (regardless of Mcl current driver!).
I think Brawn might have had their hand forced by Mercedes on this, and Button had the option for McLaren and went for it. 2010 will probably be pretty equal between the Mclaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes teams and drivers. As for how good the 2010 Mercedes will be, I think Brawn said at least once that from mid way through the year they effectively had 2 teams working on cars, one for the 2009 car and one for developing the 2010 car, he has said that the 2010 car will look a lot like a Red Bull in terms of shape and design. In one of the mid season Friday sessions, they ran a car with the 2 humps on the nosecone like a Red Bull, to check on visibility for the drivers (it was in the formula1.com technical news where they explain changes to car parts through the season), so I can believe that.
I agree Brawn have been working on the 2010 car for a while but for the 2009 season they had two highly experienced very compitent drivers, if the car isnt perfect then it would appear to me the new two are not going to be able to provide best setup like Barri or make the most of the opportunity like Button.
Perhaps williams will be a force to be reckoned with ? who knows.
It just seems madness to me to lose to experienced, winning drivers for no gain but a couple of million quid.
Perhaps as you say they had to because Mercedes wanted to call the shots on drivers, perhaps Brawn just thought hell take the money and do whatever hes told, blame Mercedes and get out next year a very rich man. Hes reached the top of his game so perhaps hes lost interest.
Regards
TJ
Perhaps williams will be a force to be reckoned with ? who knows.
It just seems madness to me to lose to experienced, winning drivers for no gain but a couple of million quid.
Perhaps as you say they had to because Mercedes wanted to call the shots on drivers, perhaps Brawn just thought hell take the money and do whatever hes told, blame Mercedes and get out next year a very rich man. Hes reached the top of his game so perhaps hes lost interest.
Regards
TJ
I think its pretty obvious that MB as the new team owners were not remotely interested in Button. Its not as if they're poor they could have easily paid him what he wanted should they have been interested! Well done to Ross Brawn he's the new Frank Williams i.e. good at getting WDC to leave the team after a very successful year!
Personally I applaud Button for signing for McLaren he's set himself a tough challenge for next year!
Personally I applaud Button for signing for McLaren he's set himself a tough challenge for next year!
They're clearly not 'idiots' as they've just hoovered up 2009.
The Button thing is a funny one. Having been in the Honda wilderness for so long and then exploding to the front it's difficult to work out exactly where Button really is in the F1 pecking order IMO
New owners, new name, maybe easier just to go with new drivers and start from there.
The Button thing is a funny one. Having been in the Honda wilderness for so long and then exploding to the front it's difficult to work out exactly where Button really is in the F1 pecking order IMO
New owners, new name, maybe easier just to go with new drivers and start from there.
I reckon Brawn were idiots for ( reportedly ) allowing Rosberg's contract to stipulate that his team mate couldn't be paid more than he was. This was the contract for the ( at the time ) no.2 driver, so how the hell could they expect Button not to feel undervalued if they are willing to pay someone who has never won a GP more than the reigning world champion.
MartG said:
I reckon Brawn were idiots for ( reportedly ) allowing Rosberg's contract to stipulate that his team mate couldn't be paid more than he was. This was the contract for the ( at the time ) no.2 driver, so how the hell could they expect Button not to feel undervalued if they are willing to pay someone who has never won a GP more than the reigning world champion.
I'm not sure that's really true. If it is, can anyone think of a reason why it wouldn't have been laughed at?Heidfeld is a top driver. He's actually had more 2nd places than Button (hello wiki). And 2008 is the only time he's been in a winning car when it won once when the top three protagonists (Hamilton, Raikkonnen and Massa) all crashed out.
If I was Brawn I would be very happy with Rosberg and Heidfeld and I wouldn't like to gamble on an old codger with a dodgy neck who's been out of the game for three years.
If I was Brawn I would be very happy with Rosberg and Heidfeld and I wouldn't like to gamble on an old codger with a dodgy neck who's been out of the game for three years.
I think Mercedes have got caught up in nationalism and made a big mistake.
We all know the Brawns advantage was due to the amount of development work as a Honda the year before. And the team could not afford development during 2009. And now MB can afford development, there isnt a lot of time.
Mclaren are stronger then Brawn at the moment, and have had the resources to develop next years car during this season. So its likely that they will be quicker next year.
Brawn have two drivers who are good, but never won a race (cna they ever??) Mclaren have two world champs, with almost 20 wins between them.
Its obvious that MB want a German team with german drivers and a German engine, but I cant seem them doing very well next year. Now the year afterm however....
We all know the Brawns advantage was due to the amount of development work as a Honda the year before. And the team could not afford development during 2009. And now MB can afford development, there isnt a lot of time.
Mclaren are stronger then Brawn at the moment, and have had the resources to develop next years car during this season. So its likely that they will be quicker next year.
Brawn have two drivers who are good, but never won a race (cna they ever??) Mclaren have two world champs, with almost 20 wins between them.
Its obvious that MB want a German team with german drivers and a German engine, but I cant seem them doing very well next year. Now the year afterm however....
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