Button in Demand

[Cheese Mechanic]

Interesting article from Tom Cary

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

[Richard-G]

I started a thread on here not long ago which raged on which is nearly word for word, apart from the part where he states 'mclaren had an awful start to the year' that's rubbish.

Fact of the matter is (and I'm refraining from using hyperbole) is that JB, to the top four teams is probably the most in demand driver, any thinking principles driver line up will feature him alongside alonso, vettel, Hamilton. It's probably not unreasonable to say that alonso and button would be unstoppable in any of the top three cars. That won't be lost on Ferrari.

What won't be lost on button is that he will complete a rare feat, a feat Prost (his favourite) completed. Williams, mclaren and Ferrari. The big three

[EDLT]

Why would he want to go to Ferrari when Webber's contract is up next year and he could be in a Red Bull?

[davepoth]

EDLT said:

Why would he want to go to Ferrari when Webber's contract is up next year and he could be in a Red Bull?

He just extended his contract this weekend.

And deep down, everyone wants to drive a Ferrari.

[cobylu]

davepoth said:

EDLT said:

Why would he want to go to Ferrari when Webber's contract is up next year and he could be in a Red Bull?

He just extended his contract this weekend.

And deep down, everyone wants to drive a Ferrari.

But only till the end of next year.

While I agree that he is in demand I also think mclaren must be very worried at the moment in securing both drivers. With the redbull and Ferrari 2nd seat up for grabs at the end of next year as far fetched as it sounds there is apossibility lewis could end up at either (if he shows he is available I do believe both teams would try and sign him) and if he goes then jenson would have to step up as a clear team leader. I think mclaren will try and tie them both down to long term contracts and it will be telling if either one of them only extends by a year or doesn't sign at all.

What must concern the top 3 teams is where is the next crop of drivers coming from. I don't see a standout currently in F1 that's going to get in a top car and perform. Perez in 3 or 4 years maybe. So I think if webber and jenson want to stay around I think they could well do in a top 3 or 4 team.

[slipstream 1985]

rosberg, get him in a faster car, lets see what he can do. lewis imo is institutionaised to mclaren and i doubt he'd ever leave. red bull dont want 2 strong drivers taking points off each other and are probably very happy with 1 superdriver and one who can use the speed advantage of the red bull to stay ahead of the chasing pack but not interfere with no1 driver.

[Fatsterjack]

There's an interesting situation in F1 currently - three teams and five (maybe six if you include Both Ferrari drivers) who can win races on their day.

I'm a big Button fan, I like his racing style, but..... he has to sort out his Saturday's.

Button would make a strong no. two at Ferrari and Redbull. If the team backs him, he does his own thing very well, as he has proved against Lewis.

However, therein lies the problem. Button is too good for a number two. Mclaren took an interesting decision in employing both Button and Hamilton and personally I think we are starting to see why they took that gamble - they weren't convinced Lewis would be able to stick with it.

Don't get me wrong, I've got a lot of time for Lewis, he's a great driver, but I think Vettel and Alonso are currently proving themselves more rounded with the equipment they have.

Button - in demand - yes - by Mclaren. He's low maintenance and can lead a team if need be.

Personally I think Lewis is exposed. Currently downbeat and down on luck and with other top teams all having senior drives what else can he do but sit tight.

If I wanted to take a massive punt though.... Rosberg to Ferrari, Lewis to Mercedes with Newbie alongside Button at McLaren.

[S18DMW]

Personally I think he'll see out his career with Mclaren now. He seems happy with the team, just needs a car that's good from the very start of the season and as said above to sort out his Saturday performance.

Button to Ferrari I can't see happening ever, no leading driver will want to be Fernando's number 2. Most likely guy to go there will be Perez.

[anonymous-user]

Rosberg hasnt done anything to inspire me. I cant think of a single impresive move he has made. At this stage in his career, he is looking like a journeyman.

[snotrag]

I agree with fasterjack - I'd like to see Jenson remain at Mclaren with a younger, clear number two driver to replace Lewis.

Freed of the need for constant Lewis cuddling, Mclaren could throw full effort into Button and although I wouldn't have said so at the end of 2009 I reckon he's got multiple championships i'n him.

[JMC1]

I do not think that you can rule out Jenson at Ferrari with Alonso in 2013 or at Red Bull with Vettel in 2013.
Most of us thought Jenson was mad going to McLaren and that he would get walked over by the teams best boy Lewis, but this has not happened and the team like him. These facts will not go unnoticed by the team managers. I think Red Bull would be a mistake but I think he could work alongside Alonso and as someone else said everyone wants to drive the red cars one day. What a good way to finish go to Ferrari win some races and retire a happy man. Good luck Jenson.

[m444ttb]

I'd love to see a Brit back in a Ferrari. I could see Button there more than Hamilton but I don't know why.

If I were Jenson I think my heart would say Ferrari and my head McLaren. Redbull is a good option but McLaren will build a championship winning car again and he's already embedded in the team.

[Jasandjules]

Could easily be posturing for better terms.

However, I hope to see British Drivers winning GPs next year.

[cobylu]

m444ttb said:

I'd love to see a Brit back in a Ferrari. I could see Button there more than Hamilton but I don't know why.

If I were Jenson I think my heart would say Ferrari and my head McLaren. Redbull is a good option but McLaren will build a championship winning car again and he's already embedded in the team.

wow. A jenson or lewis thread that's not already decended into a lewis is better than jenson or vice versa so I will try not to let it.

Have to admit not a massive jenson fan but I have to admit he really has gone up in my estimation this year with some of his more aggresive drives and think that he has had to raise his game massively to compete with lewis. I think the combination works brilliantly in that lewis will always be the charger/quicker of the 2 which as we have seen brings more incidents but jenson is always there or there abouts at the end should that approach not work out. I'm not sure that jenson approach will bring another championship in a car that's not quite good enough wereas lewis may just if he can change his apprach slightly and I have to say a bit of luck which he clearly doesn't have at the moment.

I think it's this season that perhaps has made others sit up and look at jenson for a number 2 seat but also why I think mclaren will try and tie both down as there isn't a better contrasting partnership at the leading teams.

[Life Saab Itch]

Here's how I see the 2013 top 4 teams line up:

Red Bull
Vettel
Kobayashi

McLaren
Hamilton
Button

Ferrari
Alonso
Perez

Mercedes
Rosberg
Hulkenberg/Di Resta

I don't see the advantage for Button of going from a joint number one in a top 3 team to a clear number 2 in a top 3 team. Could someone explain that to me please?

[cobylu]

I think that's a pretty good call but not sure about kobayashi at red bull though. Possible outside chance of Hamilton in a mercedes as I'm not convinced rosberg is ultimately good enough.

I also think that many on here, me included thought that jenson was a clear number 2 in reality when he went to mclaren which hasn't been the case so I think he'd welcome the challenge of going against alonso and many would respect him for doing so just as they did when he decided to go up against lewis. I think for Ferrari he'd also pick up wins and perform much better than massa.

[AJS-]

I don't see why Button would settle for being a number 2.

He's got a WDC under his belt, he's equal on wins with Hamilton and slightly ahead in the points after Spa.

At this stage of his career he needs to be in a race winning car, with a team mate who pushes him in a positive way but doesn't throw a tantrum if Button finishes ahead of him. In other words, exactly what he's got now.

This year is already pretty much Vettel's title, barring the exceptional. However if McLaren can build a decent car over the winter, instead of waiting until half way through the season, or if Red Bull have a wobble next year, then there's nothing stopping him taking another WDC with McLaren in 2012.

[cobylu]

AJS- said:

I don't see why Button would settle for being a number 2.

He's got a WDC under his belt, he's equal on wins with Hamilton and slightly ahead in the points after Spa.

At this stage of his career he needs to be in a race winning car, with a team mate who pushes him in a positive way but doesn't throw a tantrum if Button finishes ahead of him. In other words, exactly what he's got now.

This year is already pretty much Vettel's title, barring the exceptional. However if McLaren can build a decent car over the winter, instead of waiting until half way through the season, or if Red Bull have a wobble next year, then there's nothing stopping him taking another WDC with McLaren in 2012.

Do you think if mclaren build a race winning car like red bull did this year he would beat Hamilton over a season? I'm not sure he would. I think the reason Hamilton is making mistakes is that he's clearly pushing the limits to try and get on terms with the red bulls.
I'd love to see them race together for the next few years as I think they are both improving as a result but lewis does need to learn from jenson to play the long game a bit more. For mclaren it's a no brainer to tie them both down.

[Life Saab Itch]

cobylu said:

Do you think if mclaren build a race winning car like red bull did this year he would beat Hamilton over a season? I'm not sure he would. I think the reason Hamilton is making mistakes is that he's clearly pushing the limits to try and get on terms with the red bulls.
I'd love to see them race together for the next few years as I think they are both improving as a result but lewis does need to learn from jenson to play the long game a bit more. For mclaren it's a no brainer to tie them both down.

Well he was only a few points behind Hamilton at the end of last year and that was after his non-scores at Spa and Monaco. This year he is ahead at just over halfway through the season.

I don't see why he couldn't beat Hamilton. At least in McLaren there is no number 2 driver. So again, why would he go to Red Bull or Ferrari? Unless he could go in and turn the team around to work for him rather than Alonso/Vettel, it would be a wasted excercise.

[S18DMW]

Life Saab Itch said:

Here's how I see the 2013 top 4 teams line up:

Red Bull
Vettel
Kobayashi

McLaren
Hamilton
Button

Ferrari
Alonso
Perez

Mercedes
Rosberg
Hulkenberg/Di Resta

I don't see the advantage for Button of going from a joint number one in a top 3 team to a clear number 2 in a top 3 team. Could someone explain that to me please?

Sadly I don't think we'll see Kobayashi in the Red Bull. That seat may more than likely to go to Ricciardo if he performs. BUT if it happens that the new Red Bull wonderboy doesn't perform as expected Kobayashi may be the better alternative. I hope Kamui gets a chance in a top team, he's got the pace and once he's got more experience I think he's a possible champion in the right car. He'll certainly win races.