2014/15 Silly Season

[RagingBullx]

As someone else posted if Mclaren are serious about the constructors and at least beating Ferrari and Red Bull they need Button, even Red Bull dont risk constuctors points on rookies, Mclaren needs a junior team if they are serious about a driver development programme!

[Vasconia]

Alonso to McLaren I think is a bad move also Vettel to Ferrari. Neither teams have done anything this season to hint at any changes of form. Sure McLaren have recruited a good aero guy from Red Bull and have a Honda engine next year but there are no guarantees that either McLaren or Ferrari can deliver good cars based on recent form.

Personally I think Renault will have a much better engine next year, so for me the drive to get was either Mercedes or red bull. Alonso has managed neither. I doubt now that Alonso will now win then third drivers championship however he will become very much richer.

The real mistake mclaren are making is losing Jenson, I mean laying off a proven race winner and world champion who still wants to drive.....dumb. Kmag underperformed which is a bad sign for the future for him.

Prediction
McLaren ... Alonso / kmag ... Fails next year, kmag gone year after.
Ferrari ... Vettel / kimi....fails next year, kimi retires year later
Red bull...Richy...wdc contender & constructors
Merc....ros / ham....ham wdc contender & constructors
Williams ... Vatteri good season in 15 then to merc/Ferrari/McLaren 16

Between Mclaren and Ferrari I would put my money on Mclaren, I still hope that Honda can give them a good engine, not the best, but a good one, and Mclaren has reinforced its technical staff.

I am hopeless about Ferrari, even if they can improve the engine it seems that the major changes could not be done until nex summer, too much time.

[langwadt]

Alonso switching to Mclaren (or should I say HONDA) is the wise move because there is no chance for any team to beat Merc in 2015 unless Merc agree to unfreeze the engine rule. Even if they go agree to unfreeze the engine rule, it might take at awhile for other engine manufacturer to catch up.

So the best bet for 2015 IMO, is to hope that Honda can produce superb engine to rival Merc and I am sure with Honda budget and 1 solid year to study current engine setup I am sure they will have a upper hand for next year.

Between JB and KM I think Mclaren will choose to keep KM because

a) KM is likely to cost less
b) JB and FA are both consider senior citizens in current formula one
c) KM is part of Mclaren young driver program, they are likely to follow RBR footstep to promote their young driver.

KM €1M, JB €16M

is JB worth that much extra in advertising?

[kooleracer]

Alonso switching to Mclaren (or should I say HONDA) is the wise move because there is no chance for any team to beat Merc in 2015 unless Merc agree to unfreeze the engine rule. Even if they go agree to unfreeze the engine rule, it might take at awhile for other engine manufacturer to catch up.

So the best bet for 2015 IMO, is to hope that Honda can produce superb engine to rival Merc and I am sure with Honda budget and 1 solid year to study current engine setup I am sure they will have a upper hand for next year.

Between JB and KM I think Mclaren will choose to keep KM because

a) KM is likely to cost less
b) JB and FA are both consider senior citizens in current formula one
c) KM is part of Mclaren young driver program, they are likely to follow RBR footstep to promote their young driver.

I think Magnussen is the root of the problem of the driver line-up. I you look at his performances during the season he really hasn't stand out. His first race was an outlier, Button has done a terrific job this season in a weak car. He even managed to outscore Hulkenberg, which is no mean feat because FI had a strong car in the beginning of the season. Also he has scored more points then Massa and only 50 points behind Bottas who drives a podium finishing car. Button deserves a driver at McLaren if you look at the whole picture. Magnussen is a rookie but he is also a McLaren driver. Magnussen had to many blend races.

McLaren best line-up for 2015 is: Button and Alonso. There are old but experienced and fast and most importantly have both won the WDC. In the current F1 cars and with the fitness programs nowadays F1 driver could easily drive at an age of 40. The age thing is blown up to much these days. Button is only 34 and Alonso is only 33. They have a good 3 years in them left. McLaren should have gone with the Bottas route concerning Magnussen. Because throwing a rookie for wolves is not the correct thing to do if you don't a have junior team like Red Bull. Magnussen could have learned a lot from Button.

[jamblo]

I think McLaren should look to the example of Hulkenberg when he lost his drive at Williams and spent a season as 3rd driver at Force India. K. Mag is young enough to sit in the sidelines for a season and not suffer too badly. Look how good Hulk was when he came back into the fold after a season of observing.

That'd give Button a year of being properly in the shop window, whilst helping McLaren settle in with Honda. Ideally, he'd then be able to move over to Williams to properly bookend his career.

[Just_a_fan]

That'd give Button a year of being properly in the shop window, whilst helping McLaren settle in with Honda. Ideally, he'd then be able to move over to Williams to properly bookend his career.

Button doesn't care about anything other than a winning car. He's got to the point where he will happily walk away from F1 rather than mess around in a "maybe" car for another season. "Win or walk" would sum it up well.

[Racer X]

Button Vs Alonso would be a great mix.
I mean Hamilton Vs Button was a great Mix Magnusson sometimes does better then Jenson but for the most part The World Champ is better. But then again McLaren keeps building --- cars. They kicked out Whitmarsh and got Erick... Cars still ---. When you have the best power unit. No excuses Williams and Force Indian built great cars. Maybe the driver "helping" develop the cars is the problem.... When Sergio had his time at McLaren Button said that this next year would be a pure Button car. The car was ---. PEREZ was kicked out. Now another new driver that surely had no input. ---.car. I like Jenson but at the same time. I wonder if he's what's wrong with the car development..... I say give Magnusson another year I don't care what else happens with the other driver be it Alonso or Jenson Magg should have another season..

[adrianjordan]

Personally I would love to see JB stay at McLaren. So here's my (probably fantasy land) scenario:

McLaren sign Alonso and Button for next season as well as surprising everyone by agreeing to run a 3rd car with Vandoorne in it (to benefit from the extra mileage).

Magnussen is given a seat at the new McLaren (Honda owned and powered) junior team (built from the remanants of Marussia and run by Mr Aguri...) alongside Kobayashi....

(Well it IS called "Silly Season"..!!)

[CHT]

Alonso switching to Mclaren (or should I say HONDA) is the wise move because there is no chance for any team to beat Merc in 2015 unless Merc agree to unfreeze the engine rule. Even if they go agree to unfreeze the engine rule, it might take at awhile for other engine manufacturer to catch up.

So the best bet for 2015 IMO, is to hope that Honda can produce superb engine to rival Merc and I am sure with Honda budget and 1 solid year to study current engine setup I am sure they will have a upper hand for next year.

Between JB and KM I think Mclaren will choose to keep KM because

a) KM is likely to cost less
b) JB and FA are both consider senior citizens in current formula one
c) KM is part of Mclaren young driver program, they are likely to follow RBR footstep to promote their young driver.

KM €1M, JB €16M

is JB worth that much extra in advertising?

FA and JB are both 30 something drivers, what Mclaren need is a younger driver to draw in the younger generation of F1 fans.

I dont think its fair to judge the potential KM just based on 1 season because Mclaren has done a terrible job on the car despite having a Merc engine. At least he has managed a podium this year.

If KM is not good enough, then based on the performance of this season we could also include KR and SV in the mix.

[Nickel]

As much as I'd love to see JB versus FA, it's pretty easy to make an argument against this.

If you're trying to build your team for something more than 3 years, you need a superstar for the immediate future, somewhat regardless of length of commitment, and a plan to have or grow a superstar for when the original one takes off. Jenson and Fernando will both probably call it quits, provided it's at the time of their choosing, at about the same time. Then who drives for you?

As far as who that younger driver is, I'm not sure Magnussen has proven he's the guy, but you want a promising youngster who could hypothetically mature into the kind of driver who could take over the #1 in a couple years IMO.

That being said, I'm not sure he's proven he's the guy after this season's head to head with Button. I'm not sure there is someone unsigned who looks the part though. If they feel the same way, I'd take Button on a one year contract. But I'd be keeping my eye open.

[Sasha]

From Japan sources.

Alonso was always going to Mclaren(Honda did that deal).

The first delay was getting him out of his contract with Ferrari(that was solved Oct 31).

Second delay was Alonso and Dennis do not like each other.When he did the verbal deal with Honda,it was planned to get a new team principal at Mclaren.

So there is a power struggle going on at Mclaren at the moment.Dennis(25%) is trying to stay as boss but BMH(50%) and Honda wants either Berger,Whitmarsh(signed Honda) or Horner.Nobody knows yet what was the outcome of the emergency meeting of the three shareholders of Mclaren.It looks like Dennis has the support of Ogier(25%),so it's a Mexican standoff!

And that was the major reason Alonso didn't sign the dotted line until now.(so is Dennis gone and back to the auto side?)

[f1universe]

I understand why Alonso and Dennis will not want to take tea together but they should put the team first, nobody is going to ask them to hug or anything like that, just work as the professionals they are.

But if I have to take Alonso or Dennis, I will take Alonso, as much success Dennis had in the past, that was a long time ago, in the last 10 years he screw things more than fix it.

My opinion.

[AxialTurbine]

A pairing of kmag and Alonso at mclaren would be mismatched either Alonso will totally dominate the team & kmag or kmag will find some race pace and start upsetting Alonso. I think the former. Either scenario is not good.

I think kmag drove OK for his rookie season but is 'OK' good enough for McLaren. Recall lewis in 2008 matched Alonso in his rookie season.

If McLaren will spend a lot of money on Alonso they need to partner him with another driver capable of winning wdc. That's not kmag in this season or next. Partner also with a weaker teammate and he will dominate team, he only cares about 3rd wdc he will want all his way.

Alonso / grosjean
Alonso / button
Alonso / hulkenberg

[TechAddict]

You forget that Hamilton drove 10.000+km as testing before 2008 season. More than a complete season!

[Manoah2u]

But still, testing is not racing. Furthermore, K-mag had a good 1st race, but after that - plummited to the ground.

I'd say best combo is Alonso-Button.

The power struggle story is interesting because there might indeed be some body to it, it would certainly explain
some things. It would additionaly explain the 'spirit' of the drivers in the team (Button seems he's tired of politics)
and why there is no definate decision yet. Honda decides 1 driver, Mclaren the other. But who will decide? If Dennis
must go (back to Car division), then who will take his place? Can't imagine it to be Whitmarsh, Berger perhaps would.
But that would immediately explain why neither 2nd driver of MCL has been announced,
because the guy that makes the decision isn't (yet) in that position.
And perhaps either one of these replacements has a different opinion on whom to contract.

Thing is....i can see Mclaren contracting Bottas for 2016. So then, what do you do? K-Mag seems like he'd not impress in 2015 as much as he did not impress in 2014, so - easy to wave him off and replace him. Alongside who?
Alonso? I'd say thats a stellar combo - but Alonso wanted a one-year only deal. So that might still mean MCL runs the risk of losing Alonso for 2016, and whom do you then put alongside Bottas? I'd say then we look back at Button, but you've ditched him in favour of K-mag so he's gone.
So i'd say the best interest would be thinking about the future;

2015 Alonso-Button.

If Alonso stays, you can decide to wave Button goodbye in 2016 and replace him with Bottas.
If Alonso goes, you can hand him Alonso's seat paired with the experienced Button. I'd say either combo is grand;

Alonso-Button, Alonso-Bottas, Bottas-Button.

This is where i'd plan it out to.