The Jenson Button to McLaren Thread

Alex UK

Alex UK

Alex UK

Associate
Joined
25 May 2007
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Location
Brighton
Right, now we've got our own forum, I think it's a good idea to keep discussion relating to individual topics in different threads (rather than having everything 2010 related in the 2010 thread). So, everything related to Jenson's move to McLaren, the fact that Brawn now appear to be being ***** over it, etc. in here. I'll post links to all the relevant news stories and developments in this thread soon. :)

Button joins Hamilton at McLaren (Nov 18)

Hamilton pleased by Button's arrival (Nov 18)

Stewart: Button wrong to change teams (Nov 18)

Button confident of challenging Hamilton (Nov 18)

Fry: Money not issue in Button departure (Nov 18)

The Winners And Losers In Button's Move(Nov 18)

Brawn will not release Button early (Nov 19)

Button breached contract, says 'disappointed' Brawn(Nov 19)

Button says he needed a fresh challenge (Nov 19)

BBC Interview with Button(Nov 19)

Vettel surprised by Button's switch (Nov 22)

Whitmarsh: Driver rivalry good for team (Nov 29)

Button 'more motivated than ever' (Jan 4)

Button plays down Hamilton advantage (Jan 8)
 
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I totally support Button in his move. Brawn GP didn't deserve to keep him but their hands were tied by Mercedes who made it clear Button wasn't part of the deal.
 
At first I thought Jenson was money-grabbing, but now I can see why he has decided to go that way. It's a career move - he wants to be in a well-established winning team and I don't blame him.

Still, it's going to be fun seeing Hamilton outperform him next year. :p
 
He demonstrated amazing loyalty to the team by taking a pay cut for '09. He becomes world champion and they can't find it in their hearts to pay him what he deserves. I think Brawn took Button for granted and now they've lost him. Serves them right.
 
Spie said:
He demonstrated amazing loyalty to the team by taking a pay cut for '09. He becomes world champion and they can't find it in their hearts to pay him what he deserves. I think Brawn took Button for granted and now they've lost him. Serves them right.
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Why oh why don't the media report stuff like this. I have been so annoyed at how Fry has spun this :(

From what I have found out, the Williams/Barichello deal was done shortly after the German GP when he seemingly lost the race for no apparent reason. Barichello wanted out asap mid-season too. I suspect he knew he would be dumped at the end of the season anyway.
 
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vex4short said:
according to crash.net button breached his contract with brawn by checking out the mclaren factory, after brawn had offerd him 12mil to race next year.
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Was the offer actually laid out on the table, the link suggests it was allegedly worth up to 12mil. That could mean anything really.

Personally i think Brawn has been caught out by trying to string button along long enough for the merc boss's to make there minds up or until he had no other choice.
 
Spie said:
He demonstrated amazing loyalty to the team by taking a pay cut for '09. He becomes world champion and they can't find it in their hearts to pay him what he deserves. I think Brawn took Button for granted and now they've lost him. Serves them right.
Click to expand...

Yep pretty much sums it up. We will also see what McLaren are really like when he is there. Wonder if it will be another 'Alonso' situation or not.
 
Certainly and interesting move, and will probably be the pairing with the most spotlight next season.

From what we've seen so far I think Hamilton will still have better pace in ultimate lap time. So will probably out qualify Button and have faster laps during the race. But with the high fuels loads, I think Button may have an advantage in being more gentle on his tyres who is noted for his smooth driving style as opposed to Hamilton who likes to have the rears dancing around. This may lead to Button being the more consistent performer and has proven to make few mistakes.
 
I'd have liked to see Button stay with Brawn had thety stayed as Brawn, however, because MB have taken over i'm also happy we have an all English team in McLaren, and that's who i'll be following next season :)
 
Suggesting that Button demonstrated his loyalty to Brawn GP (née Honda) is absolute nonsense; he hadn't got a whole lot of choice but to accept what was on offer in December '08 or turn his back on F1 for a year.


As to breach of contract, I think that it is certainly quite possible that there is a clause in Button's contract saying that he cannot visit a competitor's facilities without clearance from his employers (Brawn GP).

I very much doubt that either Frank Williams or Flavio Briatore would agree that Button was loyal or had much interest in honouring his contracts.
 
It is very likely McLaren will have one of the best (if not the best) car next season, so to have a chance of beating someone like Hamilton, you need to be in the same car.
 
Nick Fry is starting to sound like a jilted girlfriend in those Autosport links above. I read on another forum that he was put in charge of contract negotiations with Button which could explain his venom now. They were trying to play hardball, it backfired spectacularly - tough luck. Enjoy running Rosberg and Heidfeld next season.
 
Good move for Button I think, it seems likely that the Mclaren will be the better car, so he is perhaps best being there if he wants to challenge for the title, if he can't beat Hamilton with the same car then he won't with a worse one even if he was to get #1 status at Mercedes. I don't think Button will be able to challenge Hamilton at all really, but I hope I'm wrong and really pushes Hamilton. Much respect for Button for having the balls to be Hamiltons team mate even if he loses.
 
Brawn have really messed up here. They should have re-signed Jenson weeks ago, instead they offer him half what he was on at Honda, despite him now being WDC, and then get annoyed when he visits the McLaren factory.

I've also got nothing but respect for Jenson. He could've just resigned for Brawn/Mercedes, but instead has thrown himself into McLaren alongside arguably the most talented guy in F1. He's got nothing to prove now that he's WDC, yet he wants to prove himself against Lewis. And if he really has signed for McLaren despite Brawn offering him £12m then....well...epic respect.

Everything else aside, I really do believe that McLaren will be at the very front of the grid next year, probably along with Ferrari, and so Button has given himself the best possible chance of retaining his WDC.

It's kind if a shame the season had to end like this really - after a fairy tale season Brawn and Fry now look like a pair of muppets. Jenson on the other hand has come out of this very well - any questions over his commitment or 'playboy' lifestyle have I think been answered.

Bring on 2010.
 
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