Could Button link up with Hamilton at McLaren? Friday 23rd October 2009 - PlanetF1.com McLaren have been linked with a sensational swoop for newly crowned World Champion Jenson Button - a move that will give the team a dream all-British line-up in 2010. With Button's contract negotiations with Brawn GP apparently reaching an impasse, McLaren are rumoured to be ready to pounce. According to the Daily Mail, 'McLaren and their title sponsors Vodafone, who contribute £50million a year, would welcome the tantalising line-up. 'Although Vodafone were reluctant to comment publicly, a key source close to the company said: 'Any team would like to have two world champions in their ranks.' McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh refused to nip the rumours in the bud. "We've talked to a number of drivers," he said. "It wouldn't be appropriate to say more than that. We'll hire the two best drivers available to us as we always have." Button has already stated that he is keen to battle Lewis Hamilton for the World Championship next year saying: "If I'm in a competitive car and Lewis is in a competitive car next year, I think it will be a very exciting season for Formula One and especially the British public." Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen are two of the other drivers who have been linked with McLaren in recent months.
I find this exciting and very poor news(if true) for Kimi. He is pricing himself out of the market and others are more than happy to drive for less money. No one is missed for very long in F1 and to me, Kimi no longer really wants to be there. Good for JB if this pans out. Next year should be exciting indeed!
This isn't news. It's a story made up by Button's management to help them negotiate a better salary for Jenson at Brawn. I like Jenson, but I think he would struggle even more than Kimi against Hamlton.
Getting a bit Off-Topic here, but yes I think he would. Kimi struggled against Massa and I think Hamilton is a better driver than Massa, although I prefer Massa.
I'm wondering if this is the first time that there are still so many drivers unconfirmed yet this late into the season? At least at the top teams?
Even if Kimi was clearly a better driver than Hamilton, he would struggle at McLaren. It's his team. look at Alonzo a year ago...
I think it would be rather amusing to watch Jenson the Great Champion compete on the same team against the vastly superior Hamilton.......
Regardless of who is behind the rumor, I'd like to see that pairing. I'm curious what Brawn will even look like in 2010. Rubens is gone, and they don't have the budget to resign Button. I'm sure some of the younger talent looks at Brawn with a suspect eye wondering how well they will carry over into the next season. There was a noticeable drop-off in dominance once the other teams got on the same developmental page. Ross Brawn is a brilliant F1 man, but next season will be apples to this year's oranges. If they lack the funding to continue pushing forward as hard, they could be a very unattractive destination for a driver. Maybe Button's not all that confident in the team's ability to repeat. Don't rule out Jenson lobbing a high figure their way, thinking if he's going to stay, it will have to be worthwhile.
i love hamilton, he's one of my fav driver's second only to kimi. but come on i doubt kimi would struggle against lewis in fact i think it would be the other way around
It wasn't Hamiltons team... McLaren does not play favorites with drivers. If you disagree, please back it up with what, specifically, Hamilton got that Alonso did not. The team was utterly fair and equal in their treatment of both drivers. That's what pissed off Alonso - he wanted to be the specified #1 driver.
I don't think so Hamilton didn't struggle against Alonso his rookie season more he even thrived in it. Kimi and Hamilton are both naturally gifted drivers but what will ultimately separate them is Hamilton's work ethic much resembles MS's. Even when the going gets tuff you don't find Hami at the back the pack playing follow the leader. Even though this was an unremarkable year for Hami he still had the most on track passes this season... Regards,
I agree. I think Lewis is a very talented driver but Kimi is just better and more experienced...plus Kimi appears to have a more level head and wouldn't let his emotions affect his driving. I would love to see them as teammates! IMO, the 2 top drivers are Kimi and Alonso with Lewis and Vettel being close behind.
I'm really having a hard time seeing your logic. I like to work with facts and all the facts are in Hamilton's favor. Despite have less experience Hamilton has beaten Alonso every year since he's been in F1 and he's only been beaten once by Kimi. He's only beaten Kimi once as well, but now he's caught and passed Kimi in the current standings. The McLaren is about the 5th quickest car on the grid but that hasn't stop Hamilton from winning 2 races and scoring 40 points which is the most for second half of the season. If you could go into detail and your reasoning for placing Kimi and Alonso ahead of Hami I'd really like to see your arguments... and no a feeling in your bones doesn't count. Regards
What we don't know for sure though is what deal Alonso was told he was getting when he signed up. The way it all ended, it appeared it wasn't the deal he thought it was. As for Button to McLaren, I'm not sure that would be a good move for him. He'd have to learn how the team operates which Lewis already knows and the car may not suit his driving style where as at Brawn he has both these things sorted already. Going on a line from one of Kraftwerks posts, I'd say if he's racing for the money, go to McLaren. If he's racing for wins, stay at Brawn.
JB should go if true -- Mclaren -- Team with money and can give him a winning car and pay him more. He gets wins and money. Brawn are publicly labeled as a team short on liquidity. JB has nothing to lose - He has achieved his dream, the rest is icing!!
I just can't see him beating Lewis on a regular basis in the same car (especially one that will have been tailored to Hamiltons driving style) and he's been quoted as saying it's not about the money, He wants more wins and more titles. From a PR point of view for McLaren however It would be Golden!
In your opinion... Exactly...just like Massa won Spa '08 and Alonso won Singapore '08 too right??? It has to be because those are the "facts" right....and you only go by the "facts" right??? IIRC, since Great Britian, Kimi has scored 39 pts in a much worse car than the Mac...oh and with Ferrari stopping development months ago. Oops...were any of those "facts"? No feelings in my bones needed when I can use "facts" like you. All IMHO of course.
Goddard: Button closing in on Brawn deal Sunday 25th October 2009 - PlanetF1.com Jenson Button seems set to agree a new contract with Brawn GP. The newly-crowned World Champion has been strongly linked with a switch to McLaren where he would form an all-British driver team with Lewis Hamilton. However his manager Richard Goddard has indicated he is more likely to agree a new deal with his current team. Goddard told the Mail On Sunday: "I understand the team are about to make us an offer and, as previously stated, Jenson wants to stay with Brawn. "We expect the matter to be resolved in the next few weeks."
I heard a short interview with Ross Brawn on BBC5 live this morning he said they were very close to closing a deal with Button, just the finer details to sort how much they can afford to pay him to his relative new status. If Button has any sense he will stay at BrawnGP with less money IMO. Mainly because I think he will be watching Hamiltons tail pipe at Mclaren.
Yes its almost done!! I think, unless Brawn have developed their new car along early, JB will be looking at LH tailpipes no matter the cockpit he is in. Im a Ferrari fan but I think the harmony at Mclaren is very good and I wouldnt be suprised to see them do quite well next year.
