Silly Season 2013/14

[MOWOG]

if Mika .....was drunk

Are Finns knows for being drunk? Oh, wait......

[ScottB]

If Sergio does get dropped... Where does he go? Would Sauber push out Esteban and bring him back?

If he still has Slim dollars behind him, someone will give him a drive.

[adrianjordan]

I was very disappointed in Button qualifying 12th, but finishing 12th aswell @ Abudhabi.

Don't forget that Button had to stop at the end of lap 1 to replace his front wing...

[Juzh]

I was very disappointed in Button qualifying 12th, but finishing 12th aswell @ Abudhabi.

Don't forget that Button had to stop at the end of lap 1 to replace his front wing...

Which was his fault.

[JimClarkFan]

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh described the Mexican's performance in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as "disappointing".

Well that's kinda odd to be honest because quite frankly, I think Perez performed 'good' regarding the AbuDhabi race,
I don't know if Perez had the same 'updates' Button' was carrying, but since I understood the 'updates/experiments' on
Button's car supposedly had a 'positive result', then i'd say the only one disappointing here was Button. To be even more
honest, I personally think very high of Jenson, and I have had him favoured over Cheko, and though I am aware this
years' MCL is a dog, I was very disappointed in Button qualifying 12th, but finishing 12th aswell @ Abudhabi.
Instead, Perez' got into the 9th grid slot, while homing the MCL 5th at Q2 and JB 13th.
In the end, Perez homed in points, and Button didn't.

I feel like Cheko isn't getting the 'support' he needs or perhaps deserves this year with MCL. He has to fill in 'big shoes' with HAM leaving, has been 'neutered' by MCL to become fit to the MCL 'image' [and supposedly be able to perform in a big team], then he gets a below mediocre car handed to him [essentially last years sauber was way better then this years Macca], and in this new difficult environment is trying not to lose out to JB, and neither lose 'face'. Then he get's told by Sh*tmarsh that he needs to be 'more agressive', then suddenly seems to 'own' JB [ JB was a sitting duck to Cheko, whining over the radio with Perez' Senna-esque racing approach on him ], which I think is very impressive taking into account the entire situation Sergio got himself into - then gets cr*p for his Monaco 'behavior' , gets tires blown around his ears, and now last races he outperforms JB, and Sh*tmarsh is 'disappointed'?

The only one deserving to be dissapointed are both JB and Perez to be having to drive this abomination of a car that is the 2013 Mclaren. With the shape MCL was in at the end of 2012, I've no doubt they'd be expecting to be fighting at the front with RedBull and Merc this year, not having to worry about some boring Sutil and diResta for the Constructors Championship.

If McLaren would dump Perez coming year [which i don't believe they will], i'd be shocked and would lose all respect for MCL and Whitmarsh and feel gutted for Sergio, whom, together with Kamui Kobayashi, was quite the performer in the Saub.
I do miss Kamui to be honest, can't believe he hasn't a drive when i look back at his debut grandprix.

Whitmarsh needs to go IMO.

Bring in brawn, offer brawn whatever he wants.

[Manoah2u]

I was very disappointed in Button qualifying 12th, but finishing 12th aswell @ Abudhabi.

Don't forget that Button had to stop at the end of lap 1 to replace his front wing...

Which was his fault.

indeed. I would be the first to defend Button to the bone since i have great respect for both the driver and the person named Jenson Button. Because of that, critism should not be feared either.

Fact: Button performed mediocre [especially for his capabilities] in the Abu Dhabi Qualy. He was NOWHERE during the entire Qualy while Sergio actually did really well during Q1,Q3 & Q3. Button qualified 12th.
Yes he drove his wing to shreds, but as mentioned, that was his own mistake, and he isn't the first to break a wing and then having to get through the field. I saw ZERO of button on the race after the incident and his pitstop, i wonder if the TV crew even mentioned him.

Even then, i don't see too much blame or critisism to JB simply because i genuinly believe that MCL is a absolute shed to drive. I think one might repeat the words of Prost to describe his ferrari on this Macca. So to even THINK of sh*tmarsh of perez' performance/race actually being a 'dissapointing' let alone outright say it, very misplaced. What does he think, that they've somehow be able to enter the top 5 out of nowhere? HE is the leading man behind the team, HE is to blame.
And it all started when the decision was made to go for another platform then the 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP contender.

which, in the end, actually does make me wonder though....WHY would Whitty say such a discrediting thing about Cheko, if not perhaps to 'bring down' his 'image' in order to be easier defendable to dump him? - Tho I really can't see he'd not have a drive, just by merely being the 'brand' Sergio Perez any other option would be highly illogical at this point - and I don't see Alonso suddenly jumping to McL. Or.....how about a switch between Alonso and Cheko?

[pob]

Yes he drove his wing to shreds, but as mentioned, that was his own mistake, and he isn't the first to break a wing and then having to get through the field. I saw ZERO of button on the race after the incident and his pitstop, i wonder if the TV crew even mentioned him.

Just because he wasn't picked up by the FOM director doesn't equate to him doing a bad job after the incident. He finished "only" 12 seconds behind his teammate despite the extra pitstop and possibly damaged car.

[mikeerfol]

Yes he drove his wing to shreds, but as mentioned, that was his own mistake, and he isn't the first to break a wing and then having to get through the field. I saw ZERO of button on the race after the incident and his pitstop, i wonder if the TV crew even mentioned him.

Just because he wasn't picked up by the FOM director doesn't equate to him doing a bad job after the incident. He finished "only" 12 seconds behind his teammate despite the extra pitstop and possibly damaged car.

+ slower race strategy.

[PlatinumZealot]

In my eyes both Jeson and Sergio are owed a drive next season. But It seems McLaren will forget all about.that and just dump Sergio.

I wish both drivers a drive next season.

I think Button is more likely to get dumped. He has been massively under performing with regard to being the top driver.

[ScottB]

In my eyes both Jeson and Sergio are owed a drive next season. But It seems McLaren will forget all about.that and just dump Sergio.

I wish both drivers a drive next season.

I think Button is more likely to get dumped. He has been massively under performing with regard to being the top driver.

It's been widely reported that Button has signed, just hasn't been officially reported till they pick a teammate for him.

[aral]

Button signed two weeks ago.

[ringo]

I feel Mclaren always had Button as the #2 guy; the Massas and Coulthards of the sport. They have been trying to capture an F1 ace after Lewis left and this is why the bar was set so high for Sergio. Sergio is a very good driver, but he's not exceptional.
This is all good for Button to have as a teammate, but Button is forgetting something... He's #2 by default, he's not a #1.
Only #1s get to have ok drivers as teammates.
So Mclaren have no choice but to dump on of their #2 driver guys. Button gets saved by the bell because of team chemistry and experience. Perez may lose out because of communication, and other personality and technically related issues i assume.
I don't think he has to go because he wasn't doing a good job.
it's just that Mclaren want a Hamilton or Alosno and they haven't found it.

As for this magnussen kid, i don't know of him, but i wouldn't go for a wet behind the ears rookie, no mattter how fast he is, when i can give a guy like Hulkenberg a seat. There aren't any magic silver bullet drivers out there like Hamilton any more. Those guys are once every 20 years. Mclaren need to accept this reality.

Heck, look on their merchandise sales, everything is 50% off and on clearance because Lewis left the team. The walls of mclaren are crumbling.

[i70q7m7ghw]

How has Button been underperforming? He's outscored his teammate by more than 70%, only Hülkenberg, Alonso and Vettel have done better.

Indeed. In Abu Dhabi, he had a first lap accident (not his fault) that forced an extra stop, then did a slower 1 stop strategy (on top of the extra stop for a front wing), and still only finished 10 seconds behind Perez.

If Button is under performing, how would we define Perez's performance?

[Juzh]

How has Button been underperforming? He's outscored his teammate by more than 70%, only Hülkenberg, Alonso and Vettel have done better.

Indeed. In Abu Dhabi, he had a first lap accident (not his fault) that forced an extra stop, then did a slower 1 stop strategy (on top of the extra stop for a front wing), and still only finished 10 seconds behind Perez.

If Button is under performing, how would we define Perez's performance?

button himself said it was his fault.

[i70q7m7ghw]

How has Button been underperforming? He's outscored his teammate by more than 70%, only Hülkenberg, Alonso and Vettel have done better.

Indeed. In Abu Dhabi, he had a first lap accident (not his fault) that forced an extra stop, then did a slower 1 stop strategy (on top of the extra stop for a front wing), and still only finished 10 seconds behind Perez.

If Button is under performing, how would we define Perez's performance?

button himself said it was his fault.

You're correct, I'm thinking of the previous race where Alonso ran him wide.