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[CookinFlat6]

Well, McLaren have opted to sign Magnussen. Bold move, but alongside the technical signings and the Honda deal, it looks like they're focusing on a strong future. I wonder if this means they're lining up Vandoorne for 2015 or 2016. That would be awesome.

I guess this is why they've delayed the sponsor announcement, as it wouldn't be likely that Telmex would do the deal without Pérez being onboard. I imagine that Sergio could be a good alternative for any team that was looking at having to take on Maldonado for finances. Perhaps a return to Sauber, or a move to Force India?

Where did you get this?

I cant see McLaren being without a pay driver for 2014. Now Massa is done it will be Perez or Maldo. No team waits till the penultimate race to confirm their lineup unless a sponsor is involved. And we know McLaren need a sponsor. Why would they confirm 2 drivers and no sponsor?

Do you have a link?

[NHcheese]

It's not official but....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24903504

McLaren have made a good decision.

Perez to force india apparently. Maybe Di resta isn't safe?

[Ferrari man 009]

No team waits till the penultimate race to confirm their lineup unless a sponsor is involved

Not true. Force India do it every year!

As for the lineup - I can see Button/Magnussen at McLaren, Maldonado/Grosjean at Lotus, Hulkenburg/Gutierrez at Sauber and Perez/Di Resta at Force India. Could also see Hulkenburg going back to FI and Perez joining Gutierrez at Team Mexico (sorry, sauber)!

If I had to choose between Sutil and Di Resta i'd choose Paul every day. Yes he had a bad run of form mid season but he was amazing when the car was good and his drive at Abu Dhabi last week was excellent! Form is temporary but class is permanent.

[Denthúl]

Well, McLaren have opted to sign Magnussen. Bold move, but alongside the technical signings and the Honda deal, it looks like they're focusing on a strong future. I wonder if this means they're lining up Vandoorne for 2015 or 2016. That would be awesome.

I guess this is why they've delayed the sponsor announcement, as it wouldn't be likely that Telmex would do the deal without Pérez being onboard. I imagine that Sergio could be a good alternative for any team that was looking at having to take on Maldonado for finances. Perhaps a return to Sauber, or a move to Force India?

Where did you get this?

I cant see McLaren being without a pay driver for 2014. Now Massa is done it will be Perez or Maldo. No team waits till the penultimate race to confirm their lineup unless a sponsor is involved. And we know McLaren need a sponsor. Why would they confirm 2 drivers and no sponsor?

Do you have a link?

Both BBC and Autosport are reporting it. McLaren have said that they're not going to be announcing the title sponsor until next year now, which is getting a little late to be finalising driver contracts, so they don't really have anything to lose by doing it now. My view is that if it was going to be Telmex, then that deal (and Pérez being signed for another season) would be announced and done with by now, so it seems something else is going on financially. McLaren don't need a pay driver, their finances are quite healthy, but they do need a title sponsor, that is true.

No team waits till the penultimate race to confirm their lineup unless a sponsor is involved

Not true. Force India do it every year!

Not really the same as in Cookin's scenario, though; Force India's main sponsor has been consistent since they took over from Spyker, so they're only ever waiting on driver announcements (and maybe Mallya paying his employees...).

Anyway, looking at 2014, we are starting to get a very interesting-looking grid with a lot of cool driver pairings. If Hülkenberg is confirmed at Lotus, then the top five teams are all looking in good shape. The most interesting battles for next year will be at Red Bull and Ferrari, I think.

[NHcheese]

The most interesting battles for next year will be at Red Bull and Ferrari, I think.

Most people think it will be Mercedes and Red Bull. I do.

[Denthúl]

The most interesting battles for next year will be at Red Bull and Ferrari, I think.

Most people think it will be Mercedes and Red Bull. I do.

The Rosberg/Hamilton pairing has been interesting this year, but I think next year it will be more of the same. I want to see how Daniel goes against Seb and it will be interesting to see whether Fernando will struggle more with Kimi than he did with Felipe.

[What's Burning?]

Sadly I think Ricciardo's contract has a big number two watermarked on each page, just so he doesn't forget.

[CookinFlat6]

It's not official but....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24903504

McLaren have made a good decision.

Perez to force india apparently. Maybe Di resta isn't safe?

Same article mentions a source and says this

"We haven't confirmed our driver line-up. We haven't signed contracts with drivers," said Whitmarsh.

Thing is nothing has changed, its just the BBc speculating and mentioning a source. The team have been saying the same thing for months.
This is the biggest clue that this is just reporter speculation

But the team have spent the week since the last race in Abu Dhabi analysing his performances and concluded that Perez has a speed deficit to Button that he will probably never be able to bridge.

come on gimme a break

There is obviously a sponsor lead reason for this situation. The team are not in the best financial shape and they havent been since they split from Merc. They have been unable to compete for the best staff and nothing at all has changed since they signed Perez with rumours of Telmex in the wings.

They are waiting for a sponsor to sign and that sponsor comes with a driver. Until that sponsor signs on the dotted line there will be no line up announced. Because if the sponsor doesnt signup they need other options i.e. other finance that will probably come with a driver

McLaren have posted a loss this year and that is likely to get much bigger next year with the WCC position deficit, there is no way they can suddenly confirm two salaried drivers when they are facing a bigger deficit and have not replaced Vodaphone.

Honda may be coming on board n 2015 and might bring finance on top of the free engines but the team are facing a huge deficit next year

Infact I would actually say that the team are up the creek trying to budget for 2014, and no title sponsor has been found, and that at the first race in 2014 we will see 2 pay drivers with Button out of F1

[CookinFlat6]

Dated today on official F1 website

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has refused to comment on speculation that McLaren young driver programme member Kevin Magnussen is being lined up to take Sergio Perez’s race seat for next season, insisting several drivers - Perez included - are in the running.

“Lots of people are being considered,” said Whitmarsh in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in. “When we’ve come to the end of those considerations we’ll make an announcement.”

While Jenson Button is expected to be retained by McLaren for 2014, Perez’s future has become the object of increasing scrutiny in recent races, especially after a lacklustre performance at the last round in Abu Dhabi. Whitmarsh, however, believes the bigger picture must be considered.

“Firstly we have not provided either of our drivers with a good enough race car this year, so in those circumstances I think Sergio has been a great team member,” he continued. “He’s made a concerted contribution and he’s produced some really good races, some exciting races. He’s ruffled some feathers and he’s done a pretty good job throughout the whole year. Abu Dhabi was difficult. It was not quite the result that we wanted and he wanted but difficult weekends happen.

“I think overall he’s done a good job and we’re still talking to him. I know there are all sorts of things I’ve read in the media. The fact is at the moment we haven’t confirmed our driver line-up, we haven’t signed contracts with drivers, and we’re still talking about that. There’s a lot of honest feedback both ways, but that’s best done in private.”

This I feel ties in with my previous post

[Jabberwocky]

I just had a thought that Button might be retiring, however unlike Webber he just wants to slip away at the end of the season. So maybe next year it will be Perez and Mag Jr

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[What's Burning?]

I just had a thought that Button might be retiring, however unlike Webber he just wants to slip away at the end of the season. So maybe next year it will be Perez and Mag Jr

Nah. He built the team around him, I'd think at the very least he'd want to retire on a high. I'm sure he he's bucking for long tenure at McLaren Honda.

[Jabberwocky]

Maybe the reason they are quiet on the sponsor is because it is Telemex!

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[CookinFlat6]

well they are definetely waiting for something before they announce their lineup
It cant be that they are after the best drivers available because Hulk is on the loose and there is no other top talent or Alonso in the wings
Therefore if they are talking to many drivers it must be those with money. And they have not confirmed a sponsor having had the whole year to get one and finalise the deal. So that looks like its not a certainty.
They are waiting for a Telmex to sign, in which case they keep the 2 drivers, and if no Telmex or no title sponsor to replace the 60 mill from Voda on top of the 20 -30 mill deficit from finishing the WCC in 5th (or 6th), factor in having to pay Merc 25 mill for the power units and Buttons 15 mill wage

No wonder they havent confirmed their line up. If the company recorded a loss last year, that money would have come from somewhere else, the car company wont be funding deficits, so maybe from investors the Bharainis who are already said to be a little upset at the increasing amounts they have had to stump up for the automotive.

If you were going purely by the numbers and facts and actual confirmations from the firm, you would have to question their ability to turn up next year. So it would be another bailout from the arabs which will have severe consequencies for the minority shareholders like Ron.

And if i was Honda whilst all this was going on I'd be looking to other teams to protect my investment in engines as well as maybe seeking more gaurantees for payment gouing forward.

mcLarens actions speak louder than words if you know where to look

[madbrad]

I have a technical question:
If Massa is at Williams and they're paying him to drive, can they charge sponsors more money for the real estate on the car by virtue of having a bigger name driver like massa in it? would this bigger name driver cause the director to point the camera at the Williams a little bit more often?

[NHcheese]

If they improve, then why not?

McLaren need to let Perez go, other teams need a driver like that because he has the financial backing. It will be good for the sport.