the Honda is fundamentally flawed, but next year they get to fundamentally change it, so I think he'll start another season. As to Maldonado, I saw it as Buttons fault myself, he'd just forced Maldo off circuit trying to get passed (but failing) then drove into the back of him.
My initial reaction was that Jenson had got a bit frustrated and just overstepped the car's abilities. However, considering the fact that everyone was bunched up behind Jenson I'm fairly confident that Maldanado just failed to accelerate in order to block Jenson off. Then I thought "a Honda PU tried overtaking a Mercedes PU and the Mercedes didn't pull away and I'm pretty sure it wasn't due to the Honda being more powerful". I want JB to stay just to show that he can still mix it with the best but I would understand why he would want to leave.
I think if you look at the footage approaching the corner Maldanado overdefnded the right (unlike everyone else who seemed to know when to yield) and then couldn't make the corner. He then drives off the track but cuts back in and just blocks Jenson - knowing he will now drift Out to the right of the track and give Jenson the switch back he stops just short of a brake test. The fact is that Jenson drove him to the back of him, but I also don't think any driver could have avoided that once Maldanado decided he was - well - going to Maldanado the situation.
Seemed to be a crash out of nowhere. I for one hope Button has a ace up his sleeve and another drive lined up somewhere. Haas perhaps, paired with Grosjean that's not a bad lineup.
Button is being reported to be announcing his retirement this weekend. Gutted to be honest, both a great racer and personality, and he lightens the paddock up a lot.
Clever driving from Maldonado, positioned his car perfectly, most people would've been mugged going into the next turn but he made sure he kept the inside line. Just a bit clumsy from Jenson.
The final error was Jenson's but i dont think Maldonado's driving can be called anything approaching clever. His driving was very erratic and played no small part in drawing a mistake from JB.
I think that crash is a non-issue to be honest. If it were any other driver than Maldonado no-one would be talking about it now. Glad the stewards saw it as a racing incident. In other news, Grosjean is expected to go to Haas, which is interesting and could open up a seat for Vergne or Magnussen at Lotus. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34316550
yep, the video confirms what I thought, JB at fault and making Maldo the scapegoat. I'd like to see Vergne given another go, he was a match for Ricciardo until Helmet put the pressure on. Doesn't have the mental strength for a WDC but would make a good number 2 I think.
true, but on the other hand, don't expect someone with worn out tyres and off-line to put the hammer down, Maldonado had been struggling for grip due to Lotus's foolish tyre strategy for a few laps.
Autosport are reporting that Force India will confirm Perez for next year at Mexico. Seems to make sense, him and Hulkenberg are a talented pairing and I suppose the more you can milk that Mexican audience the better. (I wonder if Haas might do the same with Gutierrez)
The only surprise there is that Renault/Lotus were supposedly the frontrunners for his signature. Wonder who is going to get that seat now. Assuming that Grosjean is off to Haas.
It does seem that assuming Renault are to buy Lotus they could be driverless - I say that deliberately because I don't class Maldanado as a decent driver there on pure merit.
Vergne would seem to suit Renault's purposes nicely, being both an experienced F1 driver and French, so if Grosjean does leave for Haas I suspect he would be their first choice (assuming he can break his Formula E contract)
According to Benson, Haas will announce their driver line-up next Tuesday - he expects it to be Grosjean and Gutierrez but Magnussen and Vergne have been in the running too.
Looks like there will be no announcement from Jenson this weekend, but it seems that doesn't mean that the rumors were wholly inaccurate. People seem to be taking the delay as either a sign that he's either been asked not to embarrass Honda in Japan or that he's still in negotiations and wants a two year contract (with the reasoning that he doesn't want to do the work developing a poor car next year and then hand over a potentially good one to Vandoorne in 2017. Some pretty blunt (surprising from a McLaren man) quotes from Jonathon Neale and a cryptic one from JB when he was asked if he still enjoys formula 1. At least it doesn't seem to be a decision guided by money like many had been fearing. It's about competitiveness.
If the options are "Button retires" or "Button gets a two-year contract" got to say I think Mclaren should just put Vandoorne in the car, they can't keep him in GP2 forever.
Button should give it a rest now, don't know what else he wants, he achieved the title. Let the young one have a go.
