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[CookinFlat6]

The bottom line is that Lewis is happier without the politics and focus on keeping sponsors and their revenue coming that he had at McLaren.

This is the final proof that McLaren are now less a racing focused team and more a marketing media concern. whereas Mercedes can afford to focus more on racing and winning and not looking good

Lewis says

"We still have sponsors, sponsors' appearances and filming days. There is not a huge difference." But he then added: "The focus is on the driver, the driver's performance, the driver being ready for the job at hand. That's one thing I'm noticing is a little bit better here.

Jenson says

"Most drivers say they're excited about the season," he said, "but you don't really enjoy all the pre-season stuff, the interviews, the sponsorship events, it's not what we're here to do, it's not what we love. But this year I arrived back and I thought: 'Let's get it on.' I'm really excited about working with the sponsors, trying to do everything as well as we can, make it as fun as we can and it's been really good so far.

"I've even enjoyed talking to you guys, man. This isn't normal. There's something wrong with me. But I'm in a really good place, and really excited about driving the car on Tuesday."

I'd rather be racing in the third best car than bottom kissing in the best car, guess thats why Lewis is my favourite driver

[killem2]

I'd rather be racing in the third best car than bottom kissing in the best car, guess thats why Lewis is my favourite driver

Just some clarification here, that isn't butt kissing, that is contractual agreements.

And most drivers would indeed take that to have a good car under them. Lewis will go through the same thing with merc once they get a decent car and have to start paying for it and him.

[Jose Lorca]

I dont buy into the sponsorship stress (He will be doing as much at Mercedes). I think it was something more deep down causing him to leave.

[andrew]

$$$ or was it £££ or maybe €€€.

[myownalias]

No-one truly knows why Lewis left McLaren; maybe it was purely money, we know that McLaren didn't want to pay top dollar for Lewis; I suspect that when Jenson's contract is up for renewal; McLaren and Ron Dennis will play hardball to get the wage bill down, Perez was the cheap option for McLaren, at a rumoured $2m per year, which is dirt cheap by F1 standards

Mercedes wanted Lewis as a driver but also as a marketing tool; Lewis Hamilton is one of the most marketable drivers in the current F1 crop of drivers, and come with a lot of loyal fans who will buy all the Mercedes branded merchandise that carries Lewis' name. The truth is that none of us no the ins and outs of Lewis' contract, all we are doing is speculating!

[bud]

This is the final proof that McLaren are now less a racing focused team and more a marketing media concern. whereas Mercedes can afford to focus more on racing and winning and not looking good

Gee all that focus for one win, impressive! How many wins has McLaren had since Merc bought BrackleyF1? Lack of focus and all.

[What's Burning?]

No-one truly knows why Lewis left McLaren;

I'm sure a lot of people know why Lewis left Mclaren. Just none of us. I think Lewis isn't the kind of guy to play media games and I believe the reasons he's given. He's never had a problem saying how he's felt before and it's gotten him into trouble plenty. Why not believe that what he's saying very plainly now is the truth?

[CookinFlat6]

This is the final proof that McLaren are now less a racing focused team and more a marketing media concern. whereas Mercedes can afford to focus more on racing and winning and not looking good

Gee all that focus for one win, impressive! How many wins has McLaren had since Merc bought BrackleyF1? Lack of focus and all.

You have heard that lots of things have changed at Merc and Mclaren recently?
Increased budget/tightening up on expenses
Top top engineering staff arriving/leaving
Fastest driver arriving/leaving

McLaren had a winning formula at some point, but theres a new sherif in town who also happens to be the fastest gunslinger in the West

[Jabberwocky]

People thrive in different environments. Lewis did not thrive in Mclarens environment. Look at people like Mika and Ayrton they excelled in the Mclaren enviroment.

It is all horses for burgers

[andrew]

Horse meat is good for you cholesterol.

[CookinFlat6]

Compared to beef I wouldn't think horse is worse (see what I did there?) healthwise

its the bute or whatever is pumped into the poor beasts that will kill you quicker than anything else

[racechick]

People thrive in different environments. Lewis did not thrive in Mclarens environment. Look at people like Mika and Ayrton they excelled in the Mclaren enviroment.

It is all horses for burgers

I think part of the problem with Lewis was that he was never accepted at Mclaren as his own person, always their protégé, their property and he outgrew that and they couldn't see it,so they lost out. He almost became part of the wallpaper. His talent was wasted and he go fed up. They say familiarity breeds contempt, and that's what seems to have happened to Lewis at Mclaren. Jenson was treated with far more respect. Well it's different for Lewis at Mercedes and he's loving it.

[andrew]

The levels of Bute believed to be used are so small that humans shouldn't suffer any ill effects, though when the meat is unregulated who knows what else is in it. Potentially similar to the BSE/CJD situation of a few years ago. Seemingly, one would have to eat 500-600 100% horse meat burgers to receive the daily human therapeutic dose of Bute.

However, I'm glad to see horses being put to good use again.

[CookinFlat6]

Agreed Rc

It was clear to so many that the less capable Button was receiving disproportionate amount of support from Whitmarsh, (not the TD) for whatever the reason. Many had strong feelings about this and were labelled conspiracy fantasists for suggesting something wasn't right at McLaren where a more capable driver is repeatedly alienated and disenfranchised compared to another.

Well we now know ofcourse that there was something wrong, McLaren mismanaging a top driver out o the door. It was a mistake for Mclaren because they have a weaker driver line up now.

And Lewis himself tells us he is much happier and has already grown as a person and driver

So from the horses mouth , McLaren messed up the chance to keep him and far from look back he deems the move successful for him already no matter what happens next.

[Jabberwocky]

People thrive in different environments. Lewis did not thrive in Mclarens environment. Look at people like Mika and Ayrton they excelled in the Mclaren enviroment.

It is all horses for burgers

I think part of the problem with Lewis was that he was never accepted at Mclaren as his own person, always their protégé, their property and he outgrew that and they couldn't see it,so they lost out. He almost became part of the wallpaper. His talent was wasted and he go fed up. They say familiarity breeds contempt, and that's what seems to have happened to Lewis at Mclaren. Jenson was treated with far more respect. Well it's different for Lewis at Mercedes and he's loving it.

I suppose a parent always sees their child as a child. That is what Lewis was to them