Silly Season 2013/14

[Jonnycraig]

The "inside info" just says that McLaren are considering Magnussen. Which they should, after all, since he's one of their own. The whole thing about them turning against Perez after a single race result is nothing but bored journalists making way too much fuss over a single word in McLaren's race report. (A word which if they haven't used in every race report this season, they should have.)

Regardless, Perez seems like an O.K. driver, but he hasn't really lit up the track. He was a surprise last minute signing last year anyway, and if McLaren think they might get more from Magnussen next year, then I guess they hire him. But I think they'll only do so after running him through a battery of testing, which might mean waiting until after winter testing to make a decision.

It would be too bad for Perez, but that's the nature of the sport.

Can't see what Perez has done wrong personally. He's 25 points behind Button having lost a decent haul of points in Monaco through his own error and Britain through a tyre exploding, not to mention Korea where he salvaged points despite another blowout.

Personally struggle to see what Button has offered over and above Perez.

[stefan_]

Williams 2014: Bottas & Massa

[Kiril Varbanov]

One variable less.
Valtteri Bottas: F1 2014 team-mate Felipe Massa will lift Williams - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111243

[SectorOne]

That´s going to be an interesting battle.

[Pup]

Personally struggle to see what Button has offered over and above Perez.

Perhaps, but I think the question of Button over Perez is somewhat irrelevant. Next year will be something of an extended test for McLaren, and seen in that light Button gives them the continuity they need. For McLaren, it's all about setting the team up for 2015.

You could argue that Perez would be better than Magnussen in that respect also, but that's really something none of us know. Perez could in fact be awful at providing feedback, and Magnussen a feedback guru. No one outside of McLaren can tell us that though unfortunately.

[Kiril Varbanov]

Multitasking:
https://twitter.com/RachelBrookesTV/sta ... 0310753280

[Holm86]

The "inside info" just says that McLaren are considering Magnussen.

This is not true. The "inside info" tells that Magnussen is faster than Perez in their simulator. And that some mechanics says Perez cant provide good enough feedback. But then again I don't think Button is good at feedback either.

And I think you are right in the sense that McLaren wants to keep Button in for 2014 because they know him well. They need some sort of a constant with the new regulations.

I just want to see Magnussen in a McLaren but I'm very biased when it comes to him

[Holm86]

Multitasking:

https://twitter.com/RachelBrookesTV/sta ... 0310753280

Well this tells us something. If he was talking to McLaren that means that they in fact are scouting for a replacement.

[Italiano]

Multitasking:

https://twitter.com/RachelBrookesTV/sta ... 0310753280

And all of them told him to get lost. Wasn't he droning on that he was only interested in competitive seats? Williamses track record ain't that stellar..

[scuderiafan]

Multitasking:

https://twitter.com/RachelBrookesTV/sta ... 0310753280

And all of them told him to get lost. Wasn't he droning on that he was only interested in competitive seats? Williamses track record ain't that stellar..

Williams can fight for points next year, we'll see, but when it comes down to Formula One or nothing, it's almost a formality to go with Williams.

[Richard]

"Talking" is a broad vague term that might just be a chat over a cup of tea to see if the other person is open to proper negotiations, or it could be formal negotiations. Also some of those teams might want it to be known that they are "talking" as a tactic to pressurise a 3rd person.

I think all the named teams have publicly said there were not automatically confirming their drivers. It'd be reckless for them to have not to have spoken the most experienced driver not under contract who also brings intelligence from a top 3 team.

[horse]

OK, so Perez V Button from f1fanatic.co.uk.



[Button is Orange, Perez Brown, Rosberg Grey]

I put Rosberg in there as well, as a benchmark, and I think that this reveals why McLaren were a bit disappointed. If you look at the lap 13-23 period, Button has the pace of Rosberg and pretty much the rest of the field except Vettel, but Perez does not. So has Button had a magic moment or was Perez under performing?

Also seeing Button match Perez's pace towards the end of the race with 20 lap older tires does not bode well for Perez.

[zeph]

[airmchair critic] If I was McLaren, I'd rather have Massa on a one-year contract than either Perez or Magnussen. [/armchair critic]

Too bad for Perez, I don't think he is half-bad, but if he is dumped it wouldn't be entirely unfair or unexpected. He didn't totally suck, but he certainly didn't excel either.

On a different note, didn't Barichello finish his career at Williams, too?

[Phil]

I have to admit, looking at that graph and it indeed doesn't bode well for Perez. Is it really that clear-cut or was Perez in traffic compared to Button in clear air? I really don't recall, but sometimes, pace is dictated by who you are following and a car further back but in clear-air could be much quicker, despite older tyres if the car further up ahead can't drive to its pace.

[horse]

Is it really that clear-cut or was Perez in traffic compared to Button in clear air?

In his second stint, Perez followed Bottas around.



In his final stint he followed Sutil.



So you could argue that he wasn't able to show the true pace of the car (Hamilton had a similar issue passing during this race) or you could argue that given the potential of the car, Bottas and Sutil should have been easy meat.

McLaren seem to have decided the latter is true. So is it fair or just convenient for them at this time?