The Jenson Button to McLaren Thread

stockhausen said:
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..
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Its well reported that Button got offers last winter - and he stuck with Brawn / Honda

stockhausen said:
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).
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JB is a racing driver - last race had finished , therefore he was out of contract, whatever the date on it said. His job had finished with Brawn until another contract was signed

stockhausen said:
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.
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Actually JB'S manager at the time messed Williams up (and JB paid for his own mistake out of his own money) and that was well documented at the time

As for Briatore - he only had a two year contract at Renault and Briatore actually messed with JB (being the personal manager of both other Renault drivers simultaneously as the team manager which is dodgy to start with

Its also since been proven that Briatore isnt the most trustworthy person, so its amusing you of all people bought it up :D


Brawn totally messed JB around and they are complaining (like a jlited girlfriend lol love that expression from above) - serves them right imo

Haug had already admitted to having extensive talks with Heidfeld (with Rosberg already signed) BEFORE JB visited McLaren, that shows how little Mercedes wanted JB
 
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FrankJH said:
Its well reported that Button got offers last winter ...
Actually JB'S manager at the time messed Williams up ...
As for Briatore - he only had a two year contract at Renault and Briatore actually messed with JB ...
Brawn totally messed JB around ...
Haug had already admitted to having extensive talks with Heidfeld ...
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Most of what you say may or may not be true; it is just unsubstantiated rumours. None of it supports the suggestion that Button is loyal, honours his contracts or is disinterested in money.

Brawn may be the losers but Button doesn't come out of the whole sorry saga smelling of roses either and he may well end up regretting his arrogance and greed before the end of next season.


However, what really got me rolling on the floor in paroxysms of mirth was:
FrankJH said:
... [Jenson Button] was out of contract, whatever the date on [the contract] said ...
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Have you ever thought of going into the law :D
 
stockhausen said:
Most of what you say may or may not be true; it is just unsubstantiated rumours. None of it supports the suggestion that Button is loyal, honours his contracts or is disinterested in money.

Brawn may be the losers but Button doesn't come out of the whole sorry saga smelling of roses either and he may well end up regretting his arrogance and greed before the end of next season.
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Its not unsubstantiated rumour - there where several press reports at the time of what happend ten years ago (which idiots still want to bash him about) with documented quotes


stockhausen said:
However, what really got me rolling on the floor in paroxysms of mirth was:Have you ever thought of going into the law :D
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You blatantly havent followed F1, as contracts are 9/10 cancelled after the last race, with all drivers who arent in contract for the coming season "free" to discuss with other teams

Its always happened and will always happen, and whether it stacks up in a court is neither here nor there because UNDOUBTEDLY both teams can settle quicker with new members, so no one actually looses out

Carry on nitpicking - Im not the only one who has said the above, you just seem to want to make JB out to be the badguy when he hasnt done anything wrong
 
FrankJH said:
You blatantly havent followed F1, as contracts are 9/10 cancelled after the last race, with all drivers who arent in contract for the coming season "free" to discuss with other teams
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That doesn't make what you said right though, if Brawn hadn't released him, he is under contract still, regardless of if 'everyone else always cancels it'. You can't just decide yourself you're no longer under contract because there are no more races to do.
 
Kenai said:
That doesn't make what you said right though, if Brawn hadn't released him, he is under contract still, regardless of if 'everyone else always cancels it'. You can't just decide yourself you're no longer under contract because there are no more races to do.
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if its common practice then yes it does

Merc were also already negotiating with their "chosen" 2nd driver so blatently didnt want Jenson enough - what was he meant to do, wait until Merc had signed and announced Heidfeld?

Wicksta said:
Seriously stockhausen, 9 out of 10 of your posts in motors really are 'wtf' posts. :/
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Glad Im not the only one
 
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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That's very interesting. The general concensus was that Button wanted more money. BrawnGP didn't want to give him more money, so Button signed with McLaren who were willing to pay up.

If BrawnGP really did offer £12M, that changes things completely.
 
sunama said:
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If BrawnGP really did offer £12M, that changes things completely.
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According to that particular rumour, what was actually offered was "a base salary £8 million, supplemented by £4 million in points bonuses". Not quite the same thing as a guaranteed £12 million. There was at talk one stage of any deal allowing Button to earn more through sponsorship which may have been included in the £8 million basic.

It does rather sound as if Jenson Button felt unappreciated at Brawn GP (as was), threw a hissy fit and walked into McLaren's welcoming arms. As Sir Jackie Stewart and John Watson imply, when partnered by Hamilton and faced with McLaren's clinical and professional approach, Button may come to regret his intemperate sulk.
 
I think it was a big mistake for him to move teams. However, what's done is done. And this time next year, we shall no for sure, whether or not Button has made the correct decision or not.
 
Seems very strange that every report mentioning JB's offer from Brawn before he went to McLaren was for £4m, yet as soon as he went to McLaren a much better contract materialises out of nowhere thats double what was initially on offer ( its very rare ANY company comes back with another offer thats immediately double the initial basic wage) - its a complete crock of ****

Not only that but if Brawn / Merc feel so hard done by why were they negotiating with Heidfeld last week (as mentioned by Haug on Sunday /Monday)

sunama said:
I think it was a big mistake for him to move teams. However, what's done is done. And this time next year, we shall no for sure, whether or not Button has made the correct decision or not.
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You have to move if you arent wanted (which is without doubt what Merc showed to JB) - so McLaren was the only viable alternative, so its hard to clasify it as a mistake
 
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Seems very strange that every report mentioning JB's offer from Brawn before he went to McLaren was for £4m, yet as soon as he went to McLaren a much better contract materialises out of nowhere thats double what was initially on offer ( its very rare ANY company comes back with another offer thats immediately double the initial basic wage) - its a complete crock of ****
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wasnt there some talk of negotiating his own sponsors for the car or some crap?

maybe the offer was 4million and a sponsorslots on the car that might in a far fetched world have made up the difference
 
I used to think Button was a money grabber too, but always remember him saying on TG that he would give up everything for a world title. Im fully supportive of his move and looking forward to an all british line up with a british team. It will be interesting to see next year how it pans out, as it will be the first full year for a long time without Ron Dennis at the helm.
 
arknor said:
wasnt there some talk of negotiating his own sponsors for the car or some crap?

maybe the offer was 4million and a sponsorslots on the car that might in a far fetched world have made up the difference
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thats very far fetched ;) anything on the car would be a team sponsor (to bring in any kind of money we are talking about)

Only personal sponsor would be on the overalls or helmet (maybe a few very small ones on the car but I cant see the size of those being worth millions)
 
Button himself has said that he took a pay cut to go to McLaren and Mercedes were offering him more money.

"I thought the challenge of going up against Lewis in his environment would be exciting," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I'm earning less than I would have at Brawn, so it's not for money - everyone involved knows that's the case."
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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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Agreed and im glad he went to McLaren...should make a decent pairing him and Hamilton...at least he will be better than Kovalanien or whatever his name was:p.

Also i read he has taken a pay cut to join McLaren...good on the lad and even though i wanted Barrichello to win the WC im pleased he ended up winning it in the end...seems like a thoroughly decent chap.
 
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