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[Hammer278]

Who cares...it's not like he's got a team which fights for titles every year, just a "we want to win some races every season" team. With him leading them, it will soon turn into a "We aim for podiums every season" team.

Better than being in team "we aim for Q3" or "we aim for points"

Ahh but not quite...which is a key reason Hamilton was poached from McLaren. Brawn knows unutilised talent when he sees it.

[The Ram]

I feel sorry for team Button already...

We will be painting their buts silver next year!

[bud]

Hmm you'll be behind but not close enough to paint their butts...

[racechick]

Just for the record, I'll say now, that I fully expect McLaren to Finnish ahead of Mercedes next year, even with the loss of Lewis.

McLaren have a race/championship winning car which they can refine for next year. Mercedes is far from that performance level yet. Without all McLaren's errors and unreliability Lewis would be either leading or right in the battle for this championship and they'd be leading the constructors too( even allowing for Buttons mid season vacation). I can't believe McLaren will have another error strewn season next year, that would make them a complete disaster, and they're not a complete disaster, they've produced a fantastic car.

I think it's unrealistic to even think Mercedes will beat them next year, pleasant thought though it is.

On another note. Whitmarsh says he isn't worried about Perez's dip in form since signing him, but he's hinted he would like to begin work with him before his Sauber contract finishes at the end of this year. In which case maybe he's prepared to release Lewis early........

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103879

[bud]

He means post season, same way McLaren had tests with Alonso while he was under contract with Renault in a plain liveried MP4-21.

[racechick]

I know post season, but he's still contracted to Sauber until 31st of December isn't he? As Lewis is to McLaren. I think Whitmarsh is talking about getting Perez over for December. That's how I read it.

[myownalias]

I know post season, but he's still contracted to Sauber until 31st of December isn't he? As Lewis is to McLaren. I think Whitmarsh is talking about getting Perez over for December. That's how I read it.

Contracts officially run to the end of the year, but I haven't heard of that being enforced in F1 ever; it's kinda silly holding onto someone who is leaving, plus I would imagine the teams don't want their outgoing drivers hanging around watching what is going on in the development race for 2013.

[Ichabod]

I know post season, but he's still contracted to Sauber until 31st of December isn't he? As Lewis is to McLaren. I think Whitmarsh is talking about getting Perez over for December. That's how I read it.

Contracts officially run to the end of the year, but I haven't heard of that being enforced in F1 ever; it's kinda silly holding onto someone who is leaving, plus I would imagine the teams don't want their outgoing drivers hanging around watching what is going on in the development race for 2013.

Mclaren have publicly said that Lewis Hamilton will not be allowed to visit the Merc factory until next year

[racechick]

I know post season, but he's still contracted to Sauber until 31st of December isn't he? As Lewis is to McLaren. I think Whitmarsh is talking about getting Perez over for December. That's how I read it.

Contracts officially run to the end of the year, but I haven't heard of that being enforced in F1 ever; it's kinda silly holding onto someone who is leaving, plus I would imagine the teams don't want their outgoing drivers hanging around watching what is going on in the development race for 2013.

Mclaren have publicly said that Lewis Hamilton will not be allowed to visit the Merc factory until next year

Indeed they have !! So how can they then expect to have Perez released early if they aren't prepared to do the same with Lewis.

[myownalias]

That really sounds like sour grapes on the part of McLaren; why hold him to the contract when clearly he will be simply put on gardening leave until the new year!

[Hammer278]

That really sounds like sour grapes on the part of McLaren; why hold him to the contract when clearly he will be simply put on gardening leave until the new year!

It's good to see...obviously they see Merc as a serious threat in the near future even if they will deny it forever. If Lewis left to join Williams or Force India I doubt they'd treat him as such.

[LewEngBridewell]

I know post season, but he's still contracted to Sauber until 31st of December isn't he? As Lewis is to McLaren. I think Whitmarsh is talking about getting Perez over for December. That's how I read it.

Contracts officially run to the end of the year, but I haven't heard of that being enforced in F1 ever; it's kinda silly holding onto someone who is leaving, plus I would imagine the teams don't want their outgoing drivers hanging around watching what is going on in the development race for 2013.

Mclaren have publicly said that Lewis Hamilton will not be allowed to visit the Merc factory until next year

Indeed they have !! So how can they then expect to have Perez released early if they aren't prepared to do the same with Lewis.

Some animals are equal. But some are more equal than others.

(Doesn't really work in this context, but I like the quote nonetheless).

[andrew]

Perfectly normal for him not to be allowed to go to Merc until next year. McLaren will be worried about their secrets being revealed and incorporated into Merc's next attempt at building an F1 car, especialy where it concerns a potential competitor.

[darwin dali]

There might also be some contractual obligations with regard to public appearances, sponsor duties, etc., that will keep those drivers busy until the end of the year/end of contract.

[What's Burning?]

I think Lewis is also contractually forbidden from having a Japanese girlfriend. Polynesian is as close as he can get.