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[Hammer278]

But if you step back and think about it, McLaren are stuck. Are these top guys really that dumb to not see Button for what he really is? Any idiot you pick from the street and compare Button's track record to Hamilton's will tell you who's the better driver, hands down. McLaren know it, and they had a knee-jerk reaction when Hamilton left and hired Perez thinking he could fill in his shoes. Most probably. But he hasn't. McLaren through mismanagement or whatever, and also Perez's mistakes during the season has made Button look good....and yet again, Button has won himself another year through sheer fortune/misfortune of others/circumstances in his favor.

McLaren are probably scraping at the bottom of the barrel (or getting close to it) in terms of cash....and they don't even have a title sponsor lined up, no matter what their excuses are. If they tell the truth about what they think of , you are having and a completely unproven rookie in Magnussen leading McLaren next year.

If I were the top brass, I'd be doing exactly what they're doing right now....outright lying about their thoughts about Button to try and fool a few sponsors.

[1Lemon]

What's with everyone claiming McLaren don't have a title sponsor? They've even said that they do, but they're not announcing it just yet.

[CookinFlat6]

If I were the top brass, I'd be doing exactly what they're doing right now....outright lying about their thoughts about Button to try and fool a few sponsors.

Good point Hamms,

And it looks like Button hasnt been allowed anywhere near the 2014 car

“I have not done a lot,” he said. “And it’s because the team don’t want to shock me with how different the car feels. As it’s so different to what we have now, they want me to concentrate on the races this season and then focus on that at the end of the year. The good thing is, we’ve got a lot of experienced test drivers putting the car through its paces in the simulator.”

And they say they want Alonso for 2015 so its only 2014 that they need feedback from a and rookie. The year is a write off so may as well make out is part of the gameplan

[What's Burning?]

Maybe they're doing with their sponsor what Mercedes is doing with their engines?

[CookinFlat6]

What's with everyone claiming McLaren don't have a title sponsor? They've even said that they do, but they're not announcing it just yet.

Oh thats alright then

When last did a team land a heavy hitting title sponsor paying up 60 mill a year?

Take your time

[CookinFlat6]

Clue: Lotus haven't been able to get one for love or for money and they have been a better bet this year. Sauber can't find one, Force India are sponsored by Sahara who are a stakeholder

The last significant sponsor emirates went direct to FOM

[CookinFlat6]

Jenson Button is now McLaren’s official yardstick of mediocrity.

The 33 year old multiple Grand Prix winner has had his status altered by his employers and will from now on be mainly used as a litmus test for whether any other drivers on their payroll are s*** or not.



Initial tests were less successful

Unfathomably Head of Everything, Martin Whitmarsh said, “Jenson has been a superb driver for us but he will be an even better measure of whether anyone else in the other car is any good.”

The Head and Shoulders model has now driven for so many teams, against so many drivers and spent so long in the Mclaren simulator that the Woking squad concluded he is not just superbly free of dandruff but also the best benchmark for driving meh-ness in the business.

“Jenson is a walking, talking Goldilocks 3 Bears analogy,” Whitmarsh continued.

“Not too fast, not too slow, likes getting his oats.”

“At least: I think that’s what the story is saying.”

- See more at: http://www.pitflaps.co.uk/2013/11/butto ... Ylk2t.dpuf

[racechick]

you think that website has been trawling through our Button threads? If only they'd asked! We could have provided them with material years ago.

[CookinFlat6]

Last year we saw Jenson faced with adapting to the car and floundering for months. Totally clueless. We all know he needs the car to be suited for him, we know he cant find grip unless the car is perfectly balanced

Next year we have the driver with the narrowest operating window on the grid coupled with a fast rookie. And next year we have a period of drivers adapting to completely new and unknown characteristics and driveability.

Who would pick Button to provide feedback in brand new cars that are gonna be tail happy, torque crazy, less rear downforce, lighter, unbalanced and non linear non smooth power delivery curves?

Madness, the rookie will have to provide technical feedback for the car to avoid becoming slow enough so button can drive it comfortably

If 2013 has exposed Buttons weakness in developing a car 2014 is gonna be an insane clown show

[bud]

Really excited about the step up for son of Magnus, good to see McLaren using their young driver program.

[CookinFlat6]

I guess thats a positive. And there is also Van in the pipeline

lets hope Whitmarsh doesnt destroy the young mans career with disorganisation and weak leadership

[bud]

Kinda feel for Perez he came to a team that won the equal most GPs in 2012 only to have a car that wasn't any better than the team he left. I do wonder how he would have gone if the car was as capable as the 27 was in comparison to the rest of the grid.

Confidence does a lot for a drivers speed.

[CookinFlat6]

I liked Perez. he was just unfortunate to be caught up in that situation with McLaren obviously gambling on Carlos Slim joining. Maybe he didnt like McLaren or maybe he didnt like Perez.
Guys like Carlos Slim didnt get rich by getting sentimental. He thought about it and obviously couldnt see the mileage, and Whitmarsh didnt wake up and smell the coffee till the Telmex 'home race'
So Sergio got dicked around, he seems to have taken it in his stride, I hope this has not left him stranded
At any other time at Mclaren Perez would have had another year and given the car could have made good.

[racechick]

I don't think he was given a fair chance and he had his fight and confidence taken from him. He could have been nurtured and encouraged. He might not ever have been a top notcher, but he may have been closer than people are giving him credit for.
I am excited about Kevin though, looking forward to that.

[CookinFlat6]

McLaren used him to get some funding from Carlos Slim. That didnt happen so they dumped his bottom, and then pretended it was about performance.
He was a feisty driver and had potential to produce in a top car and got abused by the clueless trio