FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Jensonb]

Well, if Lewis always stays at McLaren then that'll be one heck of a record to beat.

And a rare one at that...

I heard somewhere McLaren were considering offering him a £300m lifetime contract. That would be a hard one to turn down I reckon.

That's a sensational, preposterous assertion. Such an action would be wildly negligent to the shareholders.

Maybe, but from what i can tell it's true.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/motorspor ... -23052001/

You're sourcing The Mirror? Don't get me wrong, it's the by far the best of the Red Tops and the only Paper which dared to remain truly left-wing in the Election last year (Take THAT you chicken-hearted scoundrels, The Guardian/Observer), but it's still a blooming Red Top (That's Tabloid to those of you who prefer the traditional and now incorrect nomenclature).

Offering Hamilton a lifetime deal, at any price, is just about the stupidest idea I have ever heard. What driver is going to agree to join him? For that matter, what makes you think the current teammate would STAY?

Button joined on condition that McLaren was not Team Lewis. McLaren turning around and signing Lewis for a decade on a £350 Million deal arguably puts them in bad faith on their deal with Button - meaning Jenson and his Management could probably make a case to sue, rendering the contract null and void. They could then claim damages ranging from the total remaining value of the contract and up to any conceivable higher offer they are able to demonstrate they received - and then go take Massa's seat at Ferrari, replace Webber at Red Bull or something with McLaren subsidising the deal. Of course none of that's guaranteed to work, but the possibility is there, and that alone makes the idea sound preposterous.

But even after that - whether Jenson stays until his current deal expires or jumps ship in disgust - who the heck is going to agree to replace him except for a nobody? No driver of Button or Hamilton's caliber is going to willingly agree to that kind of situation. McLaren want World Constructors' Championships, surely? Sign Lewis to that kind of Eternal Emperor deal and they can kiss them goodbye. The Lewis/Heikki combo didn't pull off the WCC the year Lewis won the WDC - and that was against MASSA and an under-performing, apparently disinterested Kimi Raikkonen. They're not going to find it easy to put together a pairing any more credible than Lewis/Heikki if Lewis is the designated Golden Son.

[sennasational]

Well, if Lewis always stays at McLaren then that'll be one heck of a record to beat.

And a rare one at that...

I heard somewhere McLaren were considering offering him a £300m lifetime contract. That would be a hard one to turn down I reckon.

That's a sensational, preposterous assertion. Such an action would be wildly negligent to the shareholders.

Maybe, but from what i can tell it's true.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/motorspor ... -23052001/

You're sourcing The Mirror? Don't get me wrong, it's the by far the best of the Red Tops and the only Paper which dared to remain truly left-wing in the Election last year (Take THAT you chicken-hearted scoundrels, The Guardian/Observer), but it's still a blooming Red Top (That's Tabloid to those of you who prefer the traditional and now incorrect nomenclature).

Offering Hamilton a lifetime deal, at any price, is just about the stupidest idea I have ever heard. What driver is going to agree to join him? For that matter, what makes you think the current teammate would STAY?

Button joined on condition that McLaren was not Team Lewis. McLaren turning around and signing Lewis for a decade on a £350 Million deal arguably puts them in bad faith on their deal with Button - meaning Jenson and his Management could probably make a case to sue, rendering the contract null and void. They could then claim damages ranging from the total remaining value of the contract and up to any conceivable higher offer they are able to demonstrate they received - and then go take Massa's seat at Ferrari, replace Webber at Red Bull or something with McLaren subsidising the deal. Of course none of that's guaranteed to work, but the possibility is there, and that alone makes the idea sound preposterous.

But even after that - whether Jenson stays until his current deal expires or jumps ship in disgust - who the heck is going to agree to replace him except for a nobody? No driver of Button or Hamilton's caliber is going to willingly agree to that kind of situation. McLaren want World Constructors' Championships, surely? Sign Lewis to that kind of Eternal Emperor deal and they can kiss them goodbye. The Lewis/Heikki combo didn't pull off the WCC the year Lewis won the WDC - and that was against MASSA and an under-performing, apparently disinterested Kimi Raikkonen. They're not going to find it easy to put together a pairing any more credible than Lewis/Heikki if Lewis is the designated Golden Son.

Yeah, apologies for the source, it was the most reliable I could find unfortunately. Whilst i agree that McLaren are/were very unlikely to have officially offered Lewis this contract, i'm also pretty certain that Hamilton will probably stay at McLaren for quite a while. Whilst Button might be peeved, I doubt there is anything in his contract that would make it difficult for them to make the offer without a lawsuit. As for drivers being put off joining the team, i'm not sure if they would be. All drivers will claim to be in F1 for the racing, but money can always be a powerful persuader.

I would find it unlikely but not impossible that the offer was made, I can see both sides. At the moment though McLaren have two exceptional drivers to offer one a lifetime contract would certainly risk the others' attitude and therefore performance and i'm not sure that's a risk they would take at the moment, if they gave them both lifetime contracts however, as a McLaren fan I would not be disappointed with their decision.

Ferrari are now very much team Alonso and Red Bull are team Vettel, although I think as soon as their car design becomes less dominant we might see him struggle and want to move.

[Jensonb]

Yeah, apologies for the source, it was the most reliable I could find unfortunately. Whilst i agree that McLaren are/were very unlikely to have officially offered Lewis this contract, i'm also pretty certain that Hamilton will probably stay at McLaren for quite a while. Whilst Button might be peeved, I doubt there is anything in his contract that would make it difficult for them to make the offer without a lawsuit. As for drivers being put off joining the team, i'm not sure if they would be. All drivers will claim to be in F1 for the racing, but money can always be a powerful persuader.

I would find it unlikely but not impossible that the offer was made, I can see both sides. At the moment though McLaren have two exceptional drivers to offer one a lifetime contract would certainly risk the others' attitude and therefore performance and i'm not sure that's a risk they would take at the moment, if they gave them both lifetime contracts however, as a McLaren fan I would not be disappointed with their decision.

Ferrari are now very much team Alonso and Red Bull are team Vettel, although I think as soon as their car design becomes less dominant we might see him struggle and want to move.

I'd imagine there almost certainly is a clause in the contract which guarantees equal treatment, and it doesn't take much of a leap to argue such a deal with Lewis makes that promise seem hollow. But even if there's not, the deal could still be argued to be in bad faith. They signed on condition it was not "Team Lewis". Such a contract with Lewis irrevocably changes that. And you don't need something in writing to be found in bad faith.

I find it highly unlikely that McLaren and, in particular, Whitmarsh are/is stupid enough to think this would work. There's just too many pitfalls. Even aside from making the teammate situation difficult, what if Lewis isn't as good as he is now in five years? They're stuck with him. And they're stuck paying him silly money. You just can't make calls stretching that far into the future in Formula One, it's far too risky. Anything could happen.

The fact is, this deal would make McLaren Team Lewis, in a recklessly official way. At least Ferrari and Red Bull can throw their hands up and say that in black and white, it's equal. McLaren's ethos at the moment is "Two greats, equal chances". Signing Lewis onto a Golden Son deal not only throws that out the window, it actually makes McLaren even more of a one-man outfit than their primary rivals. And it's hard to argue that that's a good idea, Red Bull success or no.

[killem2]

How does making lewis want to stay with them mean he gets all the good parts? Is it really that hard for people to believe that Lewis and Jenson HAVE EQUAL TREATEMENT?

[bud]

it actually makes McLaren even more of a one-man outfit than their primary rivals. And it's hard to argue that that's a good idea, Red Bull success or no.

Not that i believe this is actually true, but how would it be any different to Redbull who offer Mark 1 year at a time contracts while Seb gets multi year contracts?

[Jensonb]

it actually makes McLaren even more of a one-man outfit than their primary rivals. And it's hard to argue that that's a good idea, Red Bull success or no.

Not that i believe this is actually true, but how would it be any different to Redbull who offer Mark 1 year at a time contracts while Seb gets multi year contracts?

Well there's a big difference between giving one guy a 3-year deal and another guy a 1-year extension on an existing deal and giving one guy a 3-year deal and saying the other guy is here on a lifetime deal. Three years is still fairly short term. A lifetime deal, or even a decade-long deal, is a whole different ball park. That's an abnormal commitment to make in the world of F1. That alone makes it very different to simply signing deals of differing lengths. That guy's being anointed as the Great White Hope. The guy with three years over the guy with one year is just on a different cycle.

How does making lewis want to stay with them mean he gets all the good parts? Is it really that hard for people to believe that Lewis and Jenson HAVE EQUAL TREATEMENT?

Um...What? Nobody said anything about parts.

[Hammer278]

I think what he means is that no matter if Lewis is contracted in this life and maybe his next life, while he is in the team, he will be treated EQUALLY with his teammate.

This lifetime deal is quite unique and most probably just hot air, but it doesn't mean Jenson is no.2 in the team.

As Lewis has been mentored by Mclaren since he was a child, it is a different circumstance and they might want him to retire from the team leaving behind a legacy. You're saying that this 1st time contract would mean Jenson is degraded to no.2. Not necessarily, as long as both have equal support and equal treatment in terms of management and hardware/software supplied by the team.

[Jensonb]

I think what he means is that no matter if Lewis is contracted in this life and maybe his next life, while he is in the team, he will be treated EQUALLY with his teammate.

This lifetime deal is quite unique and most probably just hot air, but it doesn't mean Jenson is no.2 in the team.

As Lewis has been mentored by Mclaren since he was a child, it is a different circumstance and they might want him to retire from the team leaving behind a legacy. You're saying that this 1st time contract would mean Jenson is degraded to no.2. Not necessarily, as long as both have equal support and equal treatment in terms of management and hardware/software supplied by the team.

I know what you're saying, but you have to see how that rings hollow. It's very difficult to imagine how the team could not be a toxic environment for the other driver with such a clearly delineated Number 2 status. On top of which, with such a massive investment in the other guy, it almost becomes irresponsible not to favour them in some way, even if you continue to make every effort to give both drivers equal access to new parts and so on.

[What's Burning?]

I think what he means is that no matter if Lewis is contracted in this life and maybe his next life, while he is in the team, he will be treated EQUALLY with his teammate.

This lifetime deal is quite unique and most probably just hot air, but it doesn't mean Jenson is no.2 in the team.

As Lewis has been mentored by Mclaren since he was a child, it is a different circumstance and they might want him to retire from the team leaving behind a legacy. You're saying that this 1st time contract would mean Jenson is degraded to no.2. Not necessarily, as long as both have equal support and equal treatment in terms of management and hardware/software supplied by the team.

Ultimately it is for a driver to choose, even if Lewis had a "life time" contract with The team last year, I think Jenson would still have joined McLaren. Given the guy's character, and methodical driving style, I think he may have known what was in store for Brawn in 2010 and that he'd have no chance to defend his title with them.

It's not something unachievable and different drivers would feel differently about joining team in which they knew they'd be driving along side a driver that had that level of commitment from the team.