Button Thinking Outside F1

[Emmcee 0]

Came accross this story as it sounds button is contemplating retirement in the near future.

http://www.gptoday.com/details/view/487415/Button_looking_beyond_F1/

[just having a laugh 0]

Got to admit I have never really rated Button, he is certainly a decent driver but to a degree I think he was very lucky to get a world championship, shame really as he comes across as a decent human but only really performs when the car is at its best. Macca has not been a happy hunting ground but I cannot see another top team giving him a drive in the future and I certainly don't think he deserves to be trolling around in a bag of crap car trying to prolong his career.

[Massa 0]

It's pretty amazing when you take a step back and realize that the oldest and most experienced driver in F1 is only 34, and nearing retirement from this particular discipline.

A lot of people think rallycross is the future of racing, for what it's worth. Youth appeal, they reckon, though how true that is in reality outside of the theory, I don't quite know. The rallycross in the U. S. is pretty healthy. Other ex-F1 drivers in rallycross that I know of are Nelson A. Piquet, Jacques Villeneuve, and Scott Speed. Probably others; I don't follow it too closely yet.

In the U. S., we also have "Formula Off-Road," which is basically rallycross with trucks. They run a mix of paved circuits with jumps (often supporting IndyCar; they'll be at Indianapolis, in fact, so I'll see them) and some dirt ones setup inside stadia. That and the U. S. rallycross series are theorized to be the future, but who knows? Plenty of others see it being Formula E, and then you have the prevalent idea that the status quo is not in jeopardy at all and the youths who didn't take to today's big racing series as kids will take to them when they're older. Plus, there's the "everything is doomed" theory that suggest no racing at all will be big-time in the future, and we'll just have small, little niches. In which case, I'd still see the Super Trucks and rallycross doing well in the U. S. because they have that nailed for now...

...more than you cared to know. But I think the sentiment of just having fun in racing is something that's become really prevalent amongst drivers on the way out of the big leagues. That's why many names from big series are in rallycross and the Stadium Super Trucks here. And why many from NASCAR go back to tiny, 0.5-mile-or-less dirt ovals and run modifieds sideways around them. There's a big movement to have fun again after the stress of running in the big shows...

...and that's where I wonder, if racing in general loses its mass appeal (which it has in the U. S., mostly), and it goes back to being niche...are the hardcore, the only people left, going to want to watch the "fun" when the big shows are no longer big shows by virtue of losing some audience?

Time will tell.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

It does seem evident especially now that 2014 appears to be barely better than 2013, that the glory days for Jenson are over. I was really hopeful that mclaren would've got their '14 car right and JB could remind the world what he's capable of, since most people in F1 have short memories, but challenging at the front this year looks to be almost certainly impossible, and his contract runs out.

He still gets one of the fattest salaries and would have to take a ginormous pay cut to end up with sauber/force india/williams. So i'm already mentally prepared for this year to potentially be his last!

[Emmcee 0]

Well he sayes he is not contemplating retirement at years end but webber also denied it until the announcement time suited him. I expect JB to do the same.

[Insider 0]

Got to admit I have never really rated Button, he is certainly a decent driver but to a degree I think he was very lucky to get a world championship, shame really as he comes across as a decent human but only really performs when the car is at its best. Macca has not been a happy hunting ground but I cannot see another top team giving him a drive in the future and I certainly don't think he deserves to be trolling around in a bag of crap car trying to prolong his career.

Don't know if you've noticed but nobody is out-performing their car this year. If it's bad it's bad - end of. I think JB is in the form of his life and if he had stayed at Brawn...........

[Insider 0]

It does seem evident especially now that 2014 appears to be barely better than 2013, that the glory days for Jenson are over. I was really hopeful that mclaren would've got their '14 car right and JB could remind the world what he's capable of, since most people in F1 have short memories, but challenging at the front this year looks to be almost certainly impossible, and his contract runs out.

He still gets one of the fattest salaries and would have to take a ginormous pay cut to end up with sauber/force india/williams. So i'm already mentally prepared for this year to potentially be his last!

The only real options he has in F1 are:

1. Hang on at Macca and get the Honda lump sorted. I am sure that would suit Honda. 2. Become the Ferrari points banker once Ross B returns, Newey gets there and Kimi departs to find a car he can drive. LdM is seriously unimpressed with him. 3. Replace Vettel at the Bulls once Seb has followed Newey though they will be keen to put Kvyat in that seat. Personally, I think McLaren-Honda for a season or two.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

Don't know if you've noticed but nobody is out-performing their car this year. If it's bad it's bad - end of. I think JB is in the form of his life and if he had stayed at Brawn...........

Then he wouldn't have won all those races for mclaren and proved to the world that he can match and beat one of the so-called 'big 3' drivers over the course of a season!

The only real options he has in F1 are:

1. Hang on at Macca and get the Honda lump sorted. I am sure that would suit Honda. 2. Become the Ferrari points banker once Ross B returns, Newey gets there and Kimi departs to find a car he can drive. LdM is seriously unimpressed with him. 3. Replace Vettel at the Bulls once Seb has followed Newey though they will be keen to put Kvyat in that seat. Personally, I think McLaren-Honda for a season or two.

Options 2 and 3, if they come to fruition, would be a couple of years off. I'm sure he'd be happy to stay on at mclaren, for me it's a question of whether they decide to retain him. And that, I would imagine, will come down to Snr Alonso.

[Emmcee 0]

But honestly what other choice have they got? I think Alonso will never leave Ferrari IMO. He already mentioned once he will retire there. I think JB is there best option and in there best intrest with there new engine. He is loved by the Japanese, just seems to naturally slot into place. But we have been robbed before, haven't we?

[Jem of the Shire 0]

The worry for me is Big Ron, he's sung JB's praises in the past but he's a ruthless mo fo and I fear he may decide to change the lead driver simply cos they're not winning and he likes to change stuff.

Assuming Alonso stays put, then yes it'd be hard to see who you could get in that would be worth ditching Button.

After Canada '11 mclaren immediately penned a 3-year contract extension, so perhaps JB just needs 1 superstar performance and that 2015 contract will be in the post!

[Emmcee 0]

If Ron Dennis had half a brain, he will keep JB.

1- he will have an immediate bond with Honda once again for the reason being, Japan loves him, he has the pinup gf,the charisma and he is still bloody fast.

2- he has showed, even though the car is crap, that he still has it. Yeah Magnussen is unbelievable, but he doesn't have enough experience yet to develop this car alone. Don't forget Jenson will be feeling the emotional pressure with not having his dad around, this would also be having a massive impact on him mentally and could be affecting his driving. Hard to say as its pretty hard to position that Mclaren in the current field ATM. I Beleive Honda and jenson will thrive and if Ron can't see that. Then his is a bloody clown.

Ohh and another I think Ron needs to take into account is that if Mclaren can't solve there issues in the coming future and KM keeps performing like he is and just say some how, Mercedes or Resbull or possibly Ferrari make him an offer? He is gone, and Ron can jump up and down as much as he wants as you very well know Jem, Jenson did just this exact thing when leaving Williams didnt he? So that's another thought Ron with have to concider IMO.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

I'm not sure what you mean, you mean Kevin being poached by another team?

[Emmcee 0]

I'm not sure what you mean, you mean Kevin being poached by another team?

Yeah this day and age a contract in there world seems to mean nothing, jenson button paid out his Williams contract to race with Benetton. That's what might happen if he has a contract in place. He could be loyal and see it out but money talks and he might not.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

Yeah this day and age a contract in there world seems to mean nothing, jenson button paid out his Williams contract to race with Benetton. That's what might happen if he has a contract in place. He could be loyal and see it out but money talks and he might not.

I think with Button he was only ever meant to be at williams for one year, then after 2000 he was 'on loan' but still under contract to williams.

In f1 and football it's true contracts dont mean much. Alonso had a 3-year contract with mclaren and left after 1.

Unfortunately for Kevin the mclaren is so bad that he's been unable to make much of an impression, since that outstanding debut. Since then he hasn't been able to match JB let alone beat him, so at this point in time I can't see any big teams swooping in to buy Kevin out of his contract.

[Emmcee 0]

I disagree, given the limited time in the car, I think he has done remarkably well, he isn't far behind JB. Sure he would be on the radar for the near future.

[Insider 0]

If Ron Dennis had half a brain, he will keep JB.

1- he will have an immediate bond with Honda once again for the reason being, Japan loves him, he has the pinup gf,the charisma and he is still bloody fast.

2- he has showed, even though the car is crap, that he still has it. Yeah Magnussen is unbelievable, but he doesn't have enough experience yet to develop this car alone. Don't forget Jenson will be feeling the emotional pressure with not having his dad around, this would also be having a massive impact on him mentally and could be affecting his driving. Hard to say as its pretty hard to position that Mclaren in the current field ATM. I Beleive Honda and jenson will thrive and if Ron can't see that. Then his is a bloody clown.

Ohh and another I think Ron needs to take into account is that if Mclaren can't solve there issues in the coming future and KM keeps performing like he is and just say some how, Mercedes or Resbull or possibly Ferrari make him an offer? He is gone, and Ron can jump up and down as much as he wants as you very well know Jem, Jenson did just this exact thing when leaving Williams didnt he? So that's another thought Ron with have to concider IMO.

Look, Ron is as unpredictable as semtex and he could easily put Vandoorne in the car as he was a tenth off JB in Barca this week.That is testing though and we know it means nothing but Ron is dangerous. Anyone with a brain in their head knows Jens is still a top package and if he is talking about rallycross he is probably reminding Ron and Honda that he has options. McLaren have destroyed the hard work he put in for them before 2013 with two very poor cars. They owe him.

[Emmcee 0]

Owe him is an understatement. When the said he was coming to Mclaren, like alot of people, I thought he was committing suicide going up against Hamilton as I rated Lewis much higher. Jenson stamped his foot down and just excelled to another level, which in drivers similar to Jenson, there form isn't on song for to long. Jenson has manged to keep the momentum running since 2009 and has a very wise and smart head on his shoulders. How can he place Vandoorne in instead of button in trying times like this? JB, you know what your getting, anyone else,especially a rookie, might as well throw a rock into a sea of people and take the first one who screams.