+1 IIRC, Uncle Ron wanted him to take a reduced salary next season - or at least forego a raise - but nothing I've seen, apart from rumors here (!) suggested he'd made up his mind. I too thought he may have had enough of pedalling that POS around at the back, but no evidence. Fred I just don't know; He certainly "embarrassed" the team the other day, but such things happen pretty regularly. He remains a quality driver. Cheers, Ian
Button has been fueling rumours with his comments, but never came out about his plans. McLaren is also sitting on the fence. As I said previously, unless Button is trying to get more money for next year, I cannot see what he is playing at. Frankly, right now McLaren doesn't need paying at total of $40m a year to TWO ex-world champions to drive an underpowered car that is lapped at each GP. That doesn't make sense. Maldonado would be more thrilling to watch in a Mclaren-Honda, and he could bring $40 m in sponsorship. I am only kidding ... As for Button and Alonso, if they throw their toys out of the pram and leave in a fit of pique, what's next? I don't think any team will be expecting them and their grossly inflated fees.
Button will be back. McLaren have an option on him for year two and Dennis apparently wants (needs) him back. What other front line driver would sign with McLaren now, and why would McLaren want to sign any lesser driver?
That is indeed the scuttlebutt. And it is precisely what puts Button in the position of power. Ron can go on about him being under contract "and that's that" but rolling back compensation commitments constitutes a material breach, giving JB comete freedom to decide his own fate next year. Stay if he wants to renegotiate terms, or walk away. (Or sue for breach, but that won't get him much. Never sue someone that doesn't have any money. Waste of time and legal fees.)
Button actually has a two year contract with an option on the second year - Not a one year contract with an option on a second year. The option on the second year of his contract was not for McLaren to re-employ him, it was an option for McLaren to cancel the second year and release him. On Sunday, Ron Dennis publicly stated that he had told Button on Thursday that he had no intention of implementing the option to release him from the second year of his contract, and that as far as he was concerned, Button was already on-board for 2016, so didn't understand quite why Button was still talking about not being sure of what was going on with the contract talks.
I'm pretty sure the option was for a second year at an increased salary. Ron is not exercising that option for a second year at an increased salary, and is trying to re-negotiate a new contract for less money. Thus, Jenson is free to accept the new contract at a reduced salary, re-negotiate another contract at an increased salary, or leave.
That's not what Ron said to the BBC live after the race in Japan! He specifically stated that Jenson had a two year contract but there was an option for McLaren to cancel the second year if they deemed fit. He then stated that he had informed Jenson on Thursday that he/McLaren had no intent on activating that option and so Jenson would be driving the McLaren in 2016 as far as he was aware. He was asked about Jenson's increased pay for the second year and he stated that the money doesn't come into it, they had a two year deal and they would honour that deal to the letter, including the increase in money. I've just checked on the BBC's iplayer recording of the Japanese GP and that is exactly what Ron states about the Jenson's contract: It's a two year contract with an option on McLaren's side to stop after one year, which they will not activate. If you want, when I've got more time I'll write out the entire transcript of Ron's interview after the race (Or if you can get the BBC's iplayer recording of the race, go to: 03:05:44 and watch the interview for yourself: BBC iPlayer - Formula 1 - 2015: The Japanese Grand Prix )
Great. Thanks for the clarification. It would be unlike Ron Dennis to talk out of his ass when there's a camera or reporter in his vicinity... Regardless, it doesn't mean ****. If Jenson wants to walk, he will. My guess is that he will.
Definitely one of the silliest silly seasons ever. I suspect we will not see the end of this until even after the final race. Alonso and Button must see Honda have too many 'maybes' and 'we're working on it' for next year than the boys are comfortable with. Where there's smoke there's fire, and when a building is on fire I condone leaving the building.
And of course you believe everything you hear ... Ron Dennis - Bless Him - often talks with a wooden tongue.
^ I watched that interview, Ron was trying to talk in circles, and the interviewers kept trying to badger him into tighter circles. Sounds like Ron thinks it best to keep Jenson, there's a contract, but what options Jenson may have to terminate himself that are in that contract, was very much avoided.
I agree with all but your last comment. I hope Jenson stays at McL. I don't see many good options for him within F1 and I don't think WEC is a realistic alternative. It may be exciting, it may be technically advanced, but it isn't F1.
I've never seen any interview whereby Ron point blank answer a question. He always beats around the bush.
And Ron Dennis would publicly lie about the 2nd year option McLaren have on Jenson's contract and wanting to keep him because?
He would say anything just to stop the media to badger him all the time. "publicly lie" ? WTF, this isn't a court of law, is it? It's just an off-the-cut interview forced on Ron Dennis! My God, what planet are you living in ? People would say anything when they are put under pressure by journos. See last year, Alonson and Ferrari kept saying they wouldn't split. Alonso maintained that Ferrari was his last team, whilst Ferrari insisted they had a valid contract, bla, bla, bla. What happened in the end? Same at Mclaren, Button and Dennis are still in negotiation perhaps, or maybe have already decided to part, but the bloody journos keep shoving mikes under their noses, and try to extract statements. Fair play, the interested parties can say anything ... "Never believe anything you are told, and only half of what you see. "
With the current fiasco that his team is involved in, lying about the terms of Jenson's contract would make no difference to the amount of badgering that he will receive from the media whatsoever! Wow! Calm down Dear! - You'll give yourself a cardiac! So if Ron Dennis was not being truthful about Jenson's McLaren contract, and it was not lying, then what on Earth (the planet that I happen to live on seeing as you asked!), do you call it then? Where was the pressure being applied to Ron Dennis? - He seemed perfectly calm and quite laid back during the whole interview! I'm pretty certain that neither Ron Dennis or Jenson Button are Ferrari or Fernando Alonso so that's pretty much irrelevant to this thread. It's quite amazing how you know more about Jenson Button's McLaren contract than either Ron Dennis or Jenson Button himself! Perhaps you could let Ron know who he will have driving for McLaren next year instead of Jenson! Did you hear that through the grapevine?
If I was replying to your post the way I feel, I would probably get banned, so I won't. You earned yourself a place on my ignore list. Well done!!
