Is Button good for McLaren?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by fomoco

Well, Justin might just be, or he would have joined these guys :
Six top drivers who didnt last at Mclaren

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226759741644

Nice little article that, although I think I would challenge the Alonso and Montoya summaries.

The fall out at McLaren was as much the Hamilton family's doing and a woeful lack of control from team management as it was Alonso spitting his dummy out. However he should have stood his ground and stayed. He would have been triple WDC by now if he had done.

Montoya was never going to fit the Ron mould, his performances were strong in the most part and the tennis injury was most unfortunate timing!. Based on his superb 2003 title challenge with Williams, it is clear that McLaren didn't get the best out of him and, also that he wasn't prepared to work their way.

It seems to me though that in each of the 6 cases, far more established drivers than Perez have come unstuck at McLaren so Checo needn't lose any sleep. He's still young as and long as he continues to be backed he'll get a decent career yet.

[Richard C]

Boy I would never have thought that this thread (based upon it's title) would have the legs to go this many pages!

Richard

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Boy I would never have thought that this thread (based upon it's title) would have the legs to go this many pages!

Richard

The thread based on the title should never have existed!

[Dragger]

McLaren considered replacing Perez with Massa before signing Magnussen:

http://app.racer.com/mobile/pages/ap...ticleid=321028

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Dragger

McLaren considered replacing Perez with Massa before signing Magnussen:

http://app.racer.com/mobile/pages/ap...ticleid=321028

Not as daft as it initially sounds, that!

This seems more and more like a simple dumping of Perez, whatever he did or did not do to me. Again leads me to suspect very reasonably that other factors than pure driving performance went against him.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Not as daft as it initially sounds, that!

This seems more and more like a simple dumping of Perez, whatever he did or did not do to me. Again leads me to suspect very reasonably that other factors than pure driving performance went against him.

I agree.

[Paradise City]

Monies undelivered meant that Perez got the elbow?

I do think a bit of an injustice was meted out to Perez. There's very strident, disparaging views on Perez given that McLaren rolled out a difficult car by all accounts.

I do feel that if you can make Grosjean fly, you can make him fly and you have to nurture and invest in these drivers if there is no testing. Does Mclaren still have Hamilton on the brain - expecting a flier right off the books? Far less likely with tough restrictions on testing. He'll probably turn out to be a Kobayashi figure in the end.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Monies undelivered meant that Perez got the elbow?

I do think a bit of an injustice was meted out to Perez. There's very strident, disparaging views on Perez given that McLaren rolled out a difficult car by all accounts.

I do feel that if you can make Grosjean fly, you can make him fly and you have to nurture and invest in these drivers if there is no testing. Does Mclaren still have Hamilton on the brain - expecting a flier right off the books? Far less likely with tough restrictions on testing. He'll probably turn out to be a Kobayashi figure in the end.

There is the old chestnut. "You can make a fast driver slow down, but you cannot make a slow driver fast!"

RoGro is extremely fast, Perez not so much!

[bjohnsonsmith]

I just wonder if McLaren are getting rid of the wrong driver. Perez looked good today at Austin.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I just wonder if McLaren are getting rid of the wrong driver. Perez looked good today at Austin.

Whilst Sergio is having a good spell at the moment, I can't help but feel that if McLaren produce another duffer of a car next year, a Sergio/Kevin partnership may not be upto improving it.

[Knowlesy]

Well, erm, on the evidence of this season...

It is correct though. Experience is needed to temper the inexperience. But then, you could say Perez is experienced enough now as well. Although McLaren have made the right call IMO.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I just wonder if McLaren are getting rid of the wrong driver. Perez looked good today at Austin.

He did.

But no. McLaren need a 'Button' in the team for 2014. Having said that, Button can't be far off retirement, I would say. Will he be at McLaren in 2015?

[ace007]

Originally Posted by Marbot

He did.

But no. McLaren need a 'Button' in the team for 2014. Having said that, Button can't be far off retirement, I would say. Will he be at McLaren in 2015?

McLaren needs an experienced driver like never before... Having said that, I do sense Button is loosing his motivation and should ask himself if it still makes sense for him to compete at that level if the fire is not there anymore... Should Magnussen do a decent/good job next year, I personally do not see him in 2015 with Honda.

[bella]

i think you're right. magnussen will polarise button - he'll either realise he can't be bothered any more and fancy a new challenge in another car and environment or he'll find the new challenge in keeping kevin behind him.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Whilst Sergio is having a good spell at the moment, I can't help but feel that if McLaren produce another duffer of a car next year, a Sergio/Kevin partnership may not be upto improving it.

I don't know about that. Perez can obviously get something out of this dog of a car that Button doesn't seem to be able to do and I doubt there's been any development work on it for a while, as McLaren concentrate on next year's car.

[John Turner]

It's been all about qualifying though in the last few races hasn't it, rather than Perez being a better/faster racer? Still, I think that he had done more than enough in those races to have kept his place.

[JHamilton]

Performance isn't the whole picture either. I obviously have no idea but what if he is just a total dick?

[BSchneiderFan]

Then he wouldn't be alone in F1...

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Performance isn't the whole picture either. I obviously have no idea but what if he is just a total dick?

It seems unlikely - especially given how he's reacted since he found out he's been given the boot. He's been very calm about it and just got on with the job. Maldonado on the other hand has effectively told his team where they can stick it and is generally acting like a pillock.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

It seems unlikely - especially given how he's reacted since he found out he's been given the boot. He's been very calm about it and just got on with the job. Maldonado on the other hand has effectively told his team where they can stick it and is generally acting like a pillock.

Indeed, Perez seems quite well adjusted even after all the slagging he's had, although to be fair McLaren have been just as hammered from many angles!

Maldonado though has gone right down in my estimation this year, and especially in the last couple of months culminating in that remark after qualy as the weekend. What a massive rear end gap.

With Button he even admitted post race that he needs to sort himself out.....

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by ace007

McLaren needs an experienced driver like never before... Having said that, I do sense Button is loosing his motivation and should ask himself if it still makes sense for him to compete at that level if the fire is not there anymore... Should Magnussen do a decent/good job next year, I personally do not see him in 2015 with Honda.

I honestly think it will be an Alonso/Magnussen line up in 2015.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I honestly think it will be an Alonso/Magnussen line up in 2015.

Alonso back to McLaren in 2015, interesting.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I honestly think it will be an Alonso/Magnussen line up in 2015.

It has a ring to it, but I'm still not convinced. McLaren need to take a serious step forwards next year and he would want reassurances from management about many things before signing.

I am fairly convinced that Button will be shown the door next year though.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Interesting comments from Button, about himself post US GP.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ce=mostpopular

[mikuni]

Originally Posted by bella

i think you're right. magnussen will polarise button - he'll either realise he can't be bothered any more and fancy a new challenge in another car and environment or he'll find the new challenge in keeping kevin behind him.

I think it is the car that is polarising. If he is given a better chassis next year I believe he will make the most of it, in a Kimi, podium finishing kind of way. If the car isn't on form I believe Button with lose spirit quickly and choose not to hang around for 2015.