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[Frosty]

I thought Hamilton was on £/$120m over 5 years (signed after the 2007 season)?? That's still about 24m a season...

Yeah, but you have to be aware that the difference between pounds and dollars is huge. I mean, one pound is almost two dollars so it's very important if signed deal is in dollars or in pounds.

I know, i am assuming that it is dollars because that seems to be the standard currency in F1... was just wondering if anyone could shed more light on it.

at the time it was reported to be something like $128 million for 5 years

[McLaren Fan]

I think we have to suspect that Hamilton is being mealy mouthed again. Behind the scenes, Hamilton and his father want Kovalainen to remain at McLaren, as they know he is a mug and will easily be beaten. It seems, again that Hamilton is looking out for himself, and is not worried about how McLaren as a whole do in the constructors' title. Poor form, if you ask me.

[Frosty]

I'm not sure what's going on but I think LH and HK are genuine friends and LH is just being supportive to him. LH may also like having a team mate who doesn't put pressure on him but in the end It's not his decision to make it's Martins so it does not matter too much what Lewis or his Father think. McLaren Fan I think you overestimate the influence of the Hamiltons and underestimate the resolve of Martin who I'm sure will get the two best drivers he can.

[ivey]

I think we have to suspect that Hamilton is being mealy mouthed again. Behind the scenes, Hamilton and his father want Kovalainen to remain at McLaren, as they know he is a mug and will easily be beaten. It seems, again that Hamilton is looking out for himself, and is not worried about how McLaren as a whole do in the constructors' title. Poor form, if you ask me.

and then again it's just what you THINK that we have to SUSPECT, isn't it?

[Tony_sa]

I think we have to suspect that Hamilton is being mealy mouthed again. Behind the scenes, Hamilton and his father want Kovalainen to remain at McLaren, as they know he is a mug and will easily be beaten. It seems, again that Hamilton is looking out for himself, and is not worried about how McLaren as a whole do in the constructors' title. Poor form, if you ask me.

and then again it's just what you THINK that we have to SUSPECT, isn't it?

you quite right Chris ....

[Big Azza]

Why are people putting Button up on a pedestal?

Jenson Button deserved to win the WDC, only because Ross Brawn made it possible. But does he have championship quality? No.
I'm sorry, but I don't think he is really that good a driver. Kimmi Raikkonen? Lewis Hamilton? Fernando Alonso? Sebastien Vettel? They are all quality drivers.

There is no way I'd put him in their boat. Perhaps he does deserve 8m dollars. But not because he has quality; instead because he won 5 races at the beginning of the season, because of a Double Diffuser.
But if he is only on $3 Million and Fernando is on $25 million... then I'd say that Alonso is earning too much.

[scotty]

People are putting Button on a pedestal? Quite the opposite from what i've seen - shooting him down at any opportunity.

He's probably not quite as good as the likes of Alonso, Raikkonen and Hamilton (the three drivers that are a step above the competition imo), but you have to get the job done and take advantage when you have a challenging car - and he did that better than the other title contenders!

As for this issue of how much drivers are paid - it's all relative really, so by that logic Button is surely worth paying 8m a year - which is just about a third of what the very top drivers get paid.

It's a moot point anyway seeing as this is just media hype/managers stirring the pot.

[Big Azza]

Mmm... I see your point. (And I'm one of the people shooting him down)...

I'd say that he is equal in skill to Nick Heidfeld, or one of the Toyota drivers... How much do they earn? And then we should add a $500k - $1m bonus for winning the WDC...

Is that reasonable?

[f1ea]

To be fair, Hamilton has been quite neutral and respectful about the Heikki issue on public. Very well done.
None of us know what he is actually pulling at Mclaren, but I hope Mclaren and Whitmarsh have their head where it should be and make the right decisions regardless of "pressure" from the Hamiltons.... IF such pressure even exists or is any relevant to the decision making people at Mclaren....

Also, the conditions under which Jenson signed last yr's contract are inmensely different from what they are now. Jenson will get more $ and I'm sure he won't be paying for his laundry in 2010. The #1 car is a great chip in the market...

[Gilles 27]

Jenson to McLaren would be better for McLaren in the long term than Kimi to McLaren. I don't see it being a good move for Jenson though.

[MAD MAX]

Quotes in the press this morning from Ross, who says he is 99% certain that Jetson will be driving for Brawn next year, the issue he says will be resolved in the next 3 weeks

[Jabberwocky]

Not so much is Button worth 8m, it is having the current F1 world champion in you car worth that in advertising revenue etc

[Gaz]

Not so much is Button worth 8m, it is having the current F1 world champion in you car worth that in advertising revenue etc

Hence why vodafone said they would like this.

Two British Superstars in the Vodafone sponsored car

[FerrariFan63]

I think it's possible that the real negotiations might be going on between Brawn and sponsors. E.g. Brawn asking for sponsors to pay Button's salary directly, and him telling sponsors that if they want Jenson in the car, they have to pay £X amount.

[McLaren Fan]

I think we have to suspect that Hamilton is being mealy mouthed again. Behind the scenes, Hamilton and his father want Kovalainen to remain at McLaren, as they know he is a mug and will easily be beaten. It seems, again that Hamilton is looking out for himself, and is not worried about how McLaren as a whole do in the constructors' title. Poor form, if you ask me.

and then again it's just what you THINK that we have to SUSPECT, isn't it?

Here we go again. Another thread is about to descend into chaos because one member is getting a bit emotional. As the opening words of my post suggest ('I think'), it's very clear I'm only offering my own take on things (though Hamilton and has father pushing for Kovalainen to be given another contract is a fact). If you don't like my opinion, say why, without being sarcastic or resorting to personal insults.