2015 Formula 1 silly season thread.

[Tucky]

Why risk JB when you could hire another champion who's probably faster anyway and on form?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Tucky

Why risk JB when you could hire another champion who's probably faster anyway and on form?

Because when JB is on form, nobody can touch him. However, I do get your point, as that happens rarely. But there are lots of for/against reasons for both drivers. Time will tell...

[Mystery]

I've said for a while JB's future may be in a McLaren Le Mans effort. I still think he'll get one year with Honda power then be moved to the GTE project.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Because when JB is on form, nobody can touch him.

Interesting thought. I'm not so sure Jenson is untouchable when guys like Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen are on form.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Articus

Interesting thought. I'm not so sure Jenson is untouchable when guys like Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen are on form.

Surely you've watched F1 for long enough to see those days where JB just cleans out the field...

...but then again, you also would've the bad days...

[mikuni]

Originally Posted by Mystery

I've said for a while JB's future may be in a McLaren Le Mans effort. I still think he'll get one year with Honda power then be moved to the GTE project.

I'm not sure Jenson would like that, particularly GTE over P1.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111989
But as he does say in the article, he wants to race, so once F1 is over with he will go elsewhere and sportcars is the next best alternative (some would say a better alternative and still others would say the only alternative).

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by mikuni

I'm not sure Jenson would like that, particularly GTE over P1.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111989
But as he does say in the article, he wants to race, so once F1 is over with he will go elsewhere and sportcars is the next best alternative (some would say a better alternative and still others would say the only alternative).

I read that article at the time and wasn't convinced. I don't see him going into TV or management, nor going into triathlon more seriously. I also don't see him leaving F1 yet.

[Tucky]

He could always do what Webber has done and race elsewhere whilst doing a bit of F1 tv work for BBC/Sky

[Paradise City]

Button will likely retire from m/sport not long after he finishes F1. I don't see him settling down.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

...but then again, you also would've the bad days...

[Articus]

Mclaren and Honda are rumoured to be collobarating on Le Mans prototype. So he could be asked to lead that program if Mclaren Honda decide to go through with it. He could do a really good job elsewhere.

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by Articus

Mclaren and Honda are rumoured to be collobarating on Le Mans prototype. So he could be asked to lead that program if Mclaren Honda decide to go through with it. He could do a really good job elsewhere.

Never heard of these rumours. Any source?

[321Go]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

is Whitmarsh still an active employee at Mclaren? i would have though his employment was a formality while his lawyers worked to secure what i would imagine is a sizable severance package.

No chillibowl, he isn't. As I've said before, Whitmarsh has not been at Woking since Boullier walked in. And from Silverstone, Eric Boullier confirmed so saying it felt strange being at McLaren and Whitmarsh not being there since his appointment. Boullier also said that the McLaren / Whitmarsh issue remains unresolved, and that the parties have still not agreed to a severance package. Although EB still communicates with MW on a regular basis as they are friends.

[chillibowl]

thats what i thought.

i wonder what they talk about...if its about team stuff then i can only imagine that strengthens whatever case MW's (or his lawyer) is making about the size of his severance package.

anyways would like to see him free to move on and working for one of the smaller/new teams and for the health of the sport it would be good that the smaller teams have a respected and clear thinking advocate negotiating for a lower cost formula.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Jenson put on notice by Ron Dennis?

Dennis: "In some ways you say 'Great, we made a great choice with Kevin', and in other ways you say 'Come on Jenson, you are a world champion and absolutely one thing you can do on a consistent basis - and you should be doing it - is beating your team-mate'."

Jenson hits back at Ron Dennis.

Button: "I think Ron is practicing to be a motivational speaker maybe."

"We all need to work harder as a team. I don't think we should be pointing the finger at any individual."

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Button: "I think Ron is practicing to be a motivational speaker maybe."

Keep the man in F1 just for his banter

...and no, I'm not talking about Ron...

[JacobP]

Has Jacques Villeneuve been tipped to make a comeback this year?

[garcon]

Probably but we've got a filter that deletes any posts that say so.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by garcon

Probably but we've got a filter that deletes any posts that say so.

Maybe not 2015, but he could be in with a shout of taking Kimi's seat...

[garcon]

I think even I'm in front of him in the queue for that seat.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by garcon

I think even I'm in front of him in the queue for that seat.

To be fair to Jacques, he's a WDC, although with hindsight nobody knows how...

[sparkione]

The ‘elephant in the room’ in the McLaren driver debate is the car. Nobody seems ready, willing or able to admit that it’s a shed – as were the last two. Ron would do better concentrating on giving his drivers a better tool to do the job. When Lewis and JB were there together, Lew was always a tenth or two quicker, but that would have been the case whoever was in the other car – he’s the quickest man out there, period.

In terms of results over that time, there was just a fag paper between them, and I don’t believe LH would have improved substantially on JB’s results these last two years had he still been there. As for returning, does anyone seriously believe either Lewis or Alonso is keen to get back into a McLaren right now? Lewis currently has the best car on the grid (and is struggling to win the WDC even in that...)

Obviously, Jenson is heading into the twilight of his F1 career. But where ex-champs and rookie teammates are concerned, he’s doing a helluva lot better job than Vettel, for a start. Ron is obviously frustrated – and probably a tad embarrassed – by the lack of progress since his takeover. But JB has endeared himself to the team for any number of good, sound reasons these last few years, and singling him out alone for criticism is unfair, unproductive and unnecessary.

[p-matt]

The engine is a huge factor. Due to homologation, it's unlikely Renault and Ferrari can catch Mercedes up. Honda is the wildcard. They deliberately held back a year to not get caught out with any loopholes that other manufacturers, in this case Mercedes, may have discovered. As such, a McLaren Honda is probably the best shot anyone has to breaking the Mercedes stranglehold next season. Thats why going back will appeal to Alonso. They are also much further on in their restructuring than Ferrari too, so if Alonso wants to get another title while he's at his peak now, McLaren is probably the best option

[321Go]

Originally Posted by sparkione

As for returning, does anyone seriously believe either Lewis or Alonso is keen to get back into a McLaren right now?

I take it you're probably unaware of the circumstances in which Lewis left McLaren to join Mercedes AMG. FYI, Lewis left the McLaren team and a car that was pretty competitive, with 4 wins, 7 poles and 7 podiums for Lewis alone in 2012, to join a team that was not competitive; Mercedes AMG - at which time had a combined drivers result of just 1 win and 1 pole for 2012.

Things do change. Timing is key.

Then again, if you believe the ill informed on here, who on a regular basis likes to post speculative fiction, Lewis left McLaren for the "big bucks". Even though we had his former team principle, and his then new team principle say otherwise at the time.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Didn't Hamilton say he joined Merc for a challenge - because Rosberg is certainly that!