Replaced by the new CEO's pet Vandoorne I'm sure...I wonder if will he stay on as team ambassador or hop over to Williams?
Big shame - I believe he still had a lot to offer - didn't see that one coming when they were talking to him after quaiy. Best, Sammy
Sounds more like Ron wants Button and Vandoorne and this is the only way to get it done. If anything this is Alonso kicked out the door at the end of next season. Button has been just about there with him always and Vandoorne may potentially be as good. No need for such a high salary drain on the team.
So the oficial line in that link is hes taking a break and not retiring. Cant see him coming back in 2018 though.
Here is F1 link Button steps back, Vandoorne to partner Alonso at McLaren in 2017 He is stepping back and has option to return to McLaren in 2018
+1...a year off towards the end of your career means retirement. This is out of the Hakkinen "year off" playbook. Didn't Kimi replace Mika? This is how Ron will softly exit Button but keep Jim on a line in case Stofdwl VanD is not who they think.
I'm sorry to see this. I doubt we'll see him driving again. It sounds like Williams couldn't come to terms with RD to buy out JB's contract.
"We are not even going to talk about drivers until after Monza," he told Sky Sports News. "We will have a board meeting towards the end of September, which is a logical time to make a decision, but we might not even take one then. Thank you Ron for this clear and accurate statement ! Sounds like they gave him a new two year deal to prevent anyone else having him
Button is not retiring. He is being relegated to test driver with vandoorne taking his seat. Basically an inter team swap. He has a contract extension for 2 years to end 2018 season.
According to Benoit this is final. At any rate, here pictures of his career from 2001 to 2015: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Back in 2018? Yeah; right. And his teammate will be ... Michael Andretti, who still owes McLaren 4 races pursuant to his contract with them! Sabbatical my rear end.
Vandoorne recently said that he would not be a tester at McLaren for one more year, but would look at other options, even other series rather than re-signing without a drive. I think Vandoorne's manager gave a choice to McLaren. "Or the kid gets a seat next year, or we are off! We want an answer now !" Ron Dennis had to sacrifice Button not to lose Vandoorne. Certainly talented, Button never looked very motivated to me. He was fast and stylish maybe, but he never was an out-and-out racer . Ross Brawn double-diffuser made him look good that year, but there was not much consistency in Button's career. I was very surprised that Williams was considering him for 2017; he badly let them down in the past. Not missed by me...
Creative driver management. Shrewd. Keep all 3 and if one fail/leaves you have someone who at least knows the car and team. Free time for JB to assess other options in or out of F1. Worse situations to be in.
Strange management IMO. Button will be paid and hopefully we will see him race in WEC. It was a shame to see him waste his last couple of years at McLaren. Alonso is next?
Agreed. Although driver decisions are less relevant when the car is that slow. When Massa retired I thought that Button was on his way back to Williams, especially since Perez looks like he's staying at Force India.
Ron Dennis may want to keep Button on the payroll for another year, just in case Alonso decides to throw the towel at the last minute. The Spaniard seemed more impatient than Button to have a good car under him. Yes, the McHonda saga has been terrible so far, and a waste of talents.
He might. It depends on what Alonso is doing. I do think that's it. Button is very valuable in meeting sponsors, a very over-qualified reserve driver, and would be good to help develop the car especially if Alonso leaves. Wasn't Schumacher the advisor/ambassador at Ferrari after his first retirement? This sounds like a similar role. All the best, Andrew.
Good point. If the car is slow next year I can see Alonso walk as soon as Sunday after Spanish GP, at which point Button could take over.
Button came out saying he wanted more time to do the things he likes. This to me reads he's grown tired of F1 and is no longer motivated. Time to move on.
