FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[IheartKimmi]

Ok, like we expected Jenson has made a statement of intent. No excuses either, Ron's influence is obvious. Let's see how it goes next race as Mags confidence grows

It was an impressive showing from the Dane and a sure sign that Button, who finished one place back from his team-mate, won't have it all his own way at McLaren.

The British driver, though, is relishing the challenge.

"The team wouldn't have employed someone they didn't think was going to be good," he said in an interview with Press Association Sport.

"You are always going to have a competitive team-mate, but I've never been scared of a team-mate. It's exciting to have someone that competitive.

Jenson has to beat the rookie on track as excuses or team orders will no longer be acceptable. Good move though to throw down the gauntlet instead of finding excuses. Ron's strictness could be the making of Button, otherwise it could be the BBC next year

I totally agree, time for Jenson to show if he can or cannot beat Kev. Anyway I think he should retire after this season, marry his lovely fiance and have loads of cute babies Although he has not had a fantastic career in F1 he must have something that someone likes for him to last this long, agree?

[What's Burning?]

Dandruff?

[racechick]

His smoooooooooooooothness. He's a smooooooooooooooooth operator.

[CookinFlat6]

Dandruff?

Now thats a disturbing thought

[zurich_allan]

Ok, like we expected Jenson has made a statement of intent. No excuses either, Ron's influence is obvious. Let's see how it goes next race as Mags confidence grows

It was an impressive showing from the Dane and a sure sign that Button, who finished one place back from his team-mate, won't have it all his own way at McLaren.

The British driver, though, is relishing the challenge.

"The team wouldn't have employed someone they didn't think was going to be good," he said in an interview with Press Association Sport.

"You are always going to have a competitive team-mate, but I've never been scared of a team-mate. It's exciting to have someone that competitive.

Jenson has to beat the rookie on track as excuses or team orders will no longer be acceptable. Good move though to throw down the gauntlet instead of finding excuses. Ron's strictness could be the making of Button, otherwise it could be the BBC next year

I totally agree, time for Jenson to show if he can or cannot beat Kev. Anyway I think he should retire after this season, marry his lovely fiance and have loads of cute babies Although he has not had a fantastic career in F1 he must have something that someone likes for him to last this long, agree?

Yup - terrible career in F1 - only the 50 podiums, of which 15 have been wins and a WDC, something that can never be taken away, and very few others have managed to achieve in history... That and having managed to get drives with Williams, Benetton, Honda and McLaren amongst others. I bet he really regrets choosing motor racing as a career...

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[CookinFlat6]

Briton Jenson Button, the most experienced driver on the 2014 Formula 1 grid, must now prove to McLaren he is also a man for the future.

The 2009 world champion is out of contract at the end of this season, and in Australia he was out-qualified and out-raced by his new rookie teammate, Kevin Magnussen.

"I've had a great career," Button is quoted by the Telegraph, "but for me it's definitely not near the end.

Jenson has to convince Ron, who had lots of chances to employ him over the years but didn't, the aberrational TP who did employ him on 15 mill a year ( the third highest wage on the grid) is no longer in a position to make duff decisions.
Interestingly Jenson is not thinking of retiring yet

[1Lemon]

You like to make a point that Jenson is the third highest paid driver on the grid almost every time you mention him. Any reason for this exactly?

[CookinFlat6]

For 15 mill, Ron could have Hulk + Bottas + Mag. He could also have Maldonado + Kimi + Perez + the 3 already mentioned all at the same time. For the third highest wage outlay, he could have each of those drivers competing during free practice and pick one for quali and the race.

The 2 drivers who earn more are Alonso and Hamilton. Ferrari is rolling in cash and Santander is bankrolling a big part of their budget. Merc are a monster manufacturer with cash to spare.

McLaren were badly managed, losing sponsors, spoiling reputation, becoming a joke, and ultimately wasting cash and thats why the aberrational TP had to be terminated with prejudice

Buttons continuing presence at McLaren is therefore weighed against his astronomical cost. The reason its mentioned is so that 'less aware' observers understand the context of the transformation at Mclaren

[sagi58]

You like to make a point that Jenson is the third highest paid driver on the grid almost every time you mention him. Any reason for this exactly?

To show just how much McLaren truly support Button!! After all, they wouldn't
pay him that kind of money, if they thought he wasn't worth it, right?

[CookinFlat6]

The THEY that paid him that money is HISTORY. Erick Boiler could hire over 10 Romain Grosjeans for that. Logic dictates that the changes for the better at McLaren will include the promotion and hiring of young cheap talent over old disturbing ones that bring the car home in the points

[sagi58]

The THEY that paid him that money is HISTORY. Erick Boiler could hire over 10 Romain Grosjeans for that. Logic dictates that the changes for the better at McLaren will include the promotion and hiring of young cheap talent over old disturbing ones that bring the car home in the points

The "they" that initially negotiated the contract may be gone; but,the "they" that
must have been aware of that contract is still there.
Also, the "they" that is there presently is still signing their name on his cheques,
which suggests that they support him, as their driver.

[myownalias]

I don't think that Button is paid $15m purely because of his driving ability, Button is also great with the media and sponsors, so I'd be willing to bet he earns his money off the track as well as on the track.

[racechick]

That's a good point. McLaren work their drivers hard on corporate and sponsorship stuff and I imagine Jenson would be very good at that.

The thing re the money that really grates with me is that having resigned button on a Lewis equalling salary, they then tried to cut Lewis' to 12 mil. They ( and Ron may have been involved at this stage, I'm not sure) claimed economic climate, but the climate was the same as when they signed Button at 15mil. To me that spoke volumes of where their comittment and loyalty lay, squarely with button, as evidence of the past couple of years also indicated. Had I been Lewis that alone would have been a huge part of my reason to leave McLaren. Not the loss of the 3 mil, but the message it gave me.
And back to Button, he now has to show he's worth ( not sure what Mag's paid ....1 mil?) 14 mil more than Kev. Early days but Thats not looking good so far.

[CookinFlat6]

I don't think that Button is paid $15m purely because of his driving ability, Button is also great with the media and sponsors, so I'd be willing to bet he earns his money off the track as well as on the track.

Through no fault of his own, Jenson has lead the team on track and with sponsors for a period when the sponsors vanished and performance collapsed, leading to the rate card becoming downgraded, leading ultimately to big spaces on the car and no title sponsor.

This is all part of the problems that Ron is back to solve, and like I said through no fault of Jensons his continuing presence in the team will be part of a different context to the last few years. Maybe the previous era was about sponsors more than performance and Jenson was deemed the best for the job, however the corporate line has clearly changed and Button through no fault of his own is likely to have to perform at a higher level than before to stay. At 15 times the salary of Mag, and not bringing any sponsors (Mag brings sponsorship from Jack and Jones) I do not think beating him like he Perez will be enough.

Thats if he beats him next race, anyway Button says he will fight to keep his place, so lets see what he has up his sleeve

[What's Burning?]

That's a good point. McLaren work their drivers hard on corporate and sponsorship stuff and I imagine Jenson would be very good at that.

The thing re the money that really grates with me is that having resigned button on a Lewis equalling salary, they then tried to cut Lewis' to 12 mil. They ( and Ron may have been involved at this stage, I'm not sure) claimed economic climate, but the climate was the same as when they signed Button at 15mil. To me that spoke volumes of where their comittment and loyalty lay, squarely with button, as evidence of the past couple of years also indicated. Had I been Lewis that alone would have been a huge part of my reason to leave McLaren. Not the loss of the 3 mil, but the message it gave me.
And back to Button, he now has to show he's worth ( not sure what Mag's paid ....1 mil?) 14 mil more than Kev. Early days but Thats not looking good so far.

A big sticking point for me as well RC, especially given the hypocrisy or claiming that the 2014 budget resources is the biggest the team has ever had but they tried to give Lewis less. They effectively made a decision that they didn't need Hamilton. The following year saw no podiums and no title sponsor manifestation. Besides having full confidence that he would have wrestled last year's pig to a podium, Hamilton is by far the most marketable F1 driver, even with Vettel's 4 titles and McLaren sort of missed that point. It's a good thing they developed a good car for the 2014 season and Jenson, Mag, and the team have already exceeded last year's results!