So long as he sings from the Mobil 1 tree if he goes to McLaren they won't mind about the past. If they do give Button push there are a few drivers in the frame (for a 2015 contract only?), but will any of them want to go for a year as McLaren will want to leave a space for Alonso or Vettel for 2016.
C'mon eurolottery. How much will I have to stuff in the brown envelope address to Ecclestone to qualify for a super-licence?
That's true actually. Compare him to Maldonado, who is not simply sponsored by PDVSA but literally their poster boy. Can't see Shell or Mobil1 taking kindly to him even if he didn't crash all the time... If they just need someone for a year they might as well keep Button, mightn't they? I don't think he's on humongous wages and as Westy pointed out, he has outpointed Magnussen this year.
It doesn't need to be in a brown envelope, remember you can just pay him to stop him making things awkward for you. Perfectly legal.
Grosjean is decent at best and hardly a step up from Button. If they are going French, I think Jean Eric Vergne has a serious future and has been very unlucky over the last 18 months. He definitely deserves a seat somewhere next year and would love to see him at Force India if Hulk moves on.
JEV doesn't do anything for me. Grosjean looked like he could win a race and was bettering Kimi in the second half of last year. That's why I would pick him
@f1fanatic_co_uk: Throw another ingredient in the silly season pot: Tuttosport claims Vettel has a 'pre-contract' with Ferrari: http://t.co/BvGmEqY824 #F1
A little strong I thought, nothing like setting the kid up for a fall! New Toro Rosso signing Max Verstappen is most like Ayrton Senna according to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The 16-year-old will make the step from a single season of Formula 3 to racing against Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso next year. Verstappen recently compared his driving style to that of Fernando Alonso, but when Marko was asked to compare the young Dutch driver to another, he chose none other than Senna - often regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time. "He is an exceptional talent that comes along only once in decades," the Austrian told the official F1 website. "You must not look at his age," he insists despite some criticism that he is too young. "He has been talking with people who are experts when it comes to the development of youngsters and they all say that [in terms of] his mind he is more like 22 than 16." When asked to compare him to another driver, Marko said: "Most likely Ayrton Senna. "Regarding his skills behind the steering wheel, he has been racing since he was four years old - professionally. "So we expect him to be competitive from the first race." Marko is certain he and Red Bull know what they're doing as Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Kvyat are evidence that their young driver programme works. - See more at: http://www.f1times.co.uk/news/display/09382#sthash.CwqqAPHM.dpuf
I reckon Grosjean is significantly faster (as shown end of last season). Jev is very solid but not a man that you could see in a leading car popping it on pole with a stunning last gasp lap, Even Ricciardo looked like he could have that ability in the Toro Rosso last year, Jev doesn't. He's a French DC or Rubens, basically. Anyway, interesting words about Alonso from Briatore today saying he could have a Lotus seat in 2015. Obviously that's not going to happen but it strongly suggests Alonso is leaving at the end of this season, not next.
I'm really worried about Max, especially with the radio rule changes. I don't doubt he has the ability to prove me wrong but I don't think he's in with any chance of living up to the hype.
There's talk that Lotus are being bought out by some fashion guy with deep pockets. Apparently his son is a racing driver.
Jenson seems to state he is confident he will be at Mclaren next yr...still doesn't explain his post race mood. I don't see him being that upset because he broke down...it is still not like him.
Meh, Gutierrez seemed pretty angry when he broke down, conditions were very hot and humid and Button was in with a chance of a good haul of points up until it let go. I think it's understandable, especially if you are driving for your seat. Interestingly, it was the last week of September two years ago that Hamilton was officially announced as a Mercedes driver for the next season. Maybe we'll get some more movement very soon, then.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motorsport/29359694 it would be nice to see it return, and by a Brabham rather than a faceless corp trading on a historic name. I like his idea of a fan owned team, though I doubt very much if it would work.
If you are interested in helping fund them: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-brabham They have raised nearly £50,000 since it went live yesterday, which is pretty impressive, whether they can raise the whole goal remains to be seen. Wonder if we could raise £500 as a forum and get ourselves named as a founder?
Pitlanetalk have doubled down and said they believe it's going to happen. Autosprint reckon there's a deal to be announced at Suzuka. And, perhaps the most important of all: please log in to view this image
