Jensons future
Discussion
Z3MCJez said:
Too difficult to try to extract from the Honda relationship.
Jez
Not so sure, Webber still had contractual ties to Red Bull and McLaren don't even use Honda engines in their road car. Hulkenberg drives a Merc engined F1 car and he drove for Porsche. Anyway Honda and Porsche are not rivals on the road car side. He would bring a great deal to the WEC and Porsche would be very aware of his value in their team. They have quite deep pockets..Jez
HustleRussell said:
thegreenhell said:
This, and Webber said only today on the C4 coverage that he expected Jenson not to race in F1 next year.Re Toto, putting pressure on a competitor to dump a WDC in favour of a youngster is a strategy...
Crafty_ said:
I think the big problem for Button going to WEC is that (as I understand it) there are very few seats and I also doubt they will pay anything like the money that Button will demand.
I suspect the main issue with him going to Williams is they won't pay what he wants.
Agree. He is untested in WEC so he is going to have to lower his expectations. Only need to look at the P1 drivers at the moment to see that there are a lot of very good drivers there that arent being paid what he is and they're doing well. And one driver doesn't make a team. So does a WEC team need Button? Not really.I suspect the main issue with him going to Williams is they won't pay what he wants.
Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy havent got drives and Tandy was massively impressive in their win at LM last year.
That said I'd like to see him in WEC. With Alonso. Hoping Tandy gets a drive above them all though.
lee_fr200 said:
What did Alonso say?
In the interview on C4, Webber asked Alonso which of his many team-mates he admired most. FA thought for a moment, and then said (paraphrasing from memory here) Jenson, because he was fast and worked hard (if not harder than others).There are several constructions: beyond the obvious politics (praise the current team-mate, but he could have ducked/fudged), he might praise JB because he's earnest and honest; or perhaps he doesn't rate JB but would prefer not to be challenged by a young charger. Other constructions are available, too.
So a data point, nothing more.
Ahhh I've been searching post race
Cheers mate,
Thing is I'm sure Alonso will have a say as Ron and Honda won't want to upset him last time he cost them a lot of money!
I honestly think mclaren will make a massive mistake with Vandoorne he's hardly setting the world alight against unknowns in super formula
Cheers mate,
Thing is I'm sure Alonso will have a say as Ron and Honda won't want to upset him last time he cost them a lot of money!
I honestly think mclaren will make a massive mistake with Vandoorne he's hardly setting the world alight against unknowns in super formula
Vandoorne will surely be in the McLaren next year. He's already done one race weekend standing in for Alonso so they know what they have with him. Also Toto is trying to poach Vandoorne, so if McLaren don't give him a race seat they may loose him elsewhere.
I want to see more of Jenson but I don't mind if he's driving, commentating, punditing, presenting...
I want to see more of Jenson but I don't mind if he's driving, commentating, punditing, presenting...
Z3MCJez said:
I don't. Jensen isn't going to win another WDC
Are you sure? Put him in a dominant car (and one which suits his driving style), and I don't see why not. Suppose Alonso leaves the team in 2018, and McLaren/Honda produce a car that exploits the rules better than the competition (think Brawn and the double defuser). He would be about the same age as Mansell when he won the championship. Any move to WEC certainly isn't helped by the big teams reducing down to 2 cars for the foreseeable, even Le Mans.
I always feel button is underrated. Whenever someone supposedly faster joins him in a team he's certainly never put in the shade. His always talked about smooth style would probably be well suited to WEC.
I always feel button is underrated. Whenever someone supposedly faster joins him in a team he's certainly never put in the shade. His always talked about smooth style would probably be well suited to WEC.
DS240 said:
Any move to WEC certainly isn't helped by the big teams reducing down to 2 cars for the foreseeable, even Le Mans.
I always feel button is underrated. Whenever someone supposedly faster joins him in a team he's certainly never put in the shade. His always talked about smooth style would probably be well suited to WEC.
I agree. If Button is pushed out and Alonso doesn't like the 2017 McLaren, it'd be great to see a Webber, Button, Alonso Porsche LMP1 taking on Le Mans. That'd bring the crowds out.I always feel button is underrated. Whenever someone supposedly faster joins him in a team he's certainly never put in the shade. His always talked about smooth style would probably be well suited to WEC.
I see him staying especially if he gets a good result at monza!
Vandoorne did ok but lucked in to 10th as he was 16th most of the race
He's not rly doing a great job in super formula against a lot of unknowns!
I reckon keep Alonso and Jenson for next year with Vandoorne in at Renault or Williams for a year with a guaranteed contract for 2018 in the mclaren
If I was mclaren that's what I'd do as I'd want my 2 wdc drivers getting that car perfect!
Vandoorne did ok but lucked in to 10th as he was 16th most of the race
He's not rly doing a great job in super formula against a lot of unknowns!
I reckon keep Alonso and Jenson for next year with Vandoorne in at Renault or Williams for a year with a guaranteed contract for 2018 in the mclaren
If I was mclaren that's what I'd do as I'd want my 2 wdc drivers getting that car perfect!
SpudLink said:
Are you sure? Put him in a dominant car (and one which suits his driving style), and I don't see why not. Suppose Alonso leaves the team in 2018, and McLaren/Honda produce a car that exploits the rules better than the competition (think Brawn and the double defuser). He would be about the same age as Mansell when he won the championship.
I would be. He had a dominant car in 2009 and needed team orders to beat Barichello in the other car. swisstoni said:
What's Massa's position at Williams? I'd take JB over him any day.
Too much £££ for Williams.Crafty_ said:
SpudLink said:
Are you sure? Put him in a dominant car (and one which suits his driving style), and I don't see why not. Suppose Alonso leaves the team in 2018, and McLaren/Honda produce a car that exploits the rules better than the competition (think Brawn and the double defuser). He would be about the same age as Mansell when he won the championship.
I would be. He had a dominant car in 2009 and needed team orders to beat Barichello in the other car. Ross brawn was and has always Beevery clear on this point
What if:
McLaren replace Button with Vandoorne for 2017, but then...
Alonso doesn't enjoy 2017 and takes the retirement he keeps threatening.
Who would be in the McLaren in 2018? They're surely going to want another big name, but who would be available? If I'm not mistaken all of the currently recognised big names will be under contract elsewhere, if not retired or about to retire.
It seems to me that if they are going to replace Button they also need to get Alonso to commit to at least one more year beyond his current contract.
McLaren replace Button with Vandoorne for 2017, but then...
Alonso doesn't enjoy 2017 and takes the retirement he keeps threatening.
Who would be in the McLaren in 2018? They're surely going to want another big name, but who would be available? If I'm not mistaken all of the currently recognised big names will be under contract elsewhere, if not retired or about to retire.
It seems to me that if they are going to replace Button they also need to get Alonso to commit to at least one more year beyond his current contract.
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