jenson button signs for......

[tyred]

I am certainly not a Hamilton worshipper, I find both him and the McLaren team in general very difficult to like but I give credit where it's due, he is a class act and a season in a poor car has made him a stronger driver IMO. He has made the once highly rated Kovaleinen seem second rate, managed to match a double world championship winning team mate in his very first season and I will be genuinely amazed if Button can get the better of him. Hamilton also displays the mindset of the multiple world champs that went before.

Button, like Damon Hill, is a slightly above average driver who has made use of being given a world championship winning oppurtunity (and plenty have failed to do that in the past). If he was at Hamilton's level, he would have had no trouble in making mincemeat of Barrichello, who let's face it is in the late afternoon of his career.

Personally, I hope Ferrari beat them both.

 

[philipbh]

Yes, Team Braun must indeed be a tad miffed. But I guess the offer of even more money elsewhere attracted Button.

Maybe / maybe not

If you listen to the comments of Eddie Jordan and Sir Jackie Stewart - its possible with M-B selling back their shares in McLaren and investing in Team Brawn - making it an all German outfit, with Nico Rosberg as #1 and Nick Heidfeld rumoured as his #2.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

making it an all German outfit

Mercedes have said they definitely DON'T want it to be an all German team. They are a global brand and the make up should reflect that.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Huh.......... you get annoyed with people who like Lewis Hamilton, his fans...... You should get out more. So you don't like Lewis Hamilton?

Which posts have clearly praised Hamilton to the extent of cult worship? I think we are discussing Button gaining a drive for McLaren and the dynamics of how this may affect the team of which Hamilton is the other existing driver. Simples.

Hamilton like Button is a World Champion. Hamilton did make achieve some stunning race wins in 2008 as did Button in 2009.

You seem in a very combative mood today Cranky. Where did I say anything about posts being in praise of Hamilton? I was talking about the general public and teh number of people who suddenly started supporting Hamilton, despite never having expressed any interest whatever in F1 previously.
He is a good driver, mind, and I have a bit more time for him now he's had a season (well, half a season) at the back of the pack and dealt with it pretty well.

 

[tyred]

Jenson (and Rubens) made quite a few sacrifices to race for Brawn this year. That's on the back of having to endure horrible cars from the earlier Honda days. They done this out of loyalty. They won Brawn both the driver's and constructor's titles, making Brawn a much more valuable team in which to sell shares to Mercedes. What did Brawn give his two loyal drivers in return? In real terms, I suspect Ross did better out of last season than either Jenson or Rubens. Rubens did okay, he extended his F1 career with a deal for Williams. He would never have had that chance without driving a very good season this year. I can understand Jenson's desire to leave after this lack of loyalty and McLaren gave him the best chance but I still fear he will end up looking silly alongside Hamilton.

I actually think it is a poor show by Brawn that they didn't keep at least one of the drivers which made this year's success possible for them.

 

[philipbh]

They are a global brand and the make up should reflect that.

I disagree entirely

Brawn GP is 75% owned by M-B and 25% by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry - Brawn GP remains at Brackley

It would be interesting to see the staff rota at the team - I doubt it reflects the United Nations

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Disagree all you want. I was quoting the CEO of Mercedes. As Brawn's title sponsor for next year, he emphatically does not want to have two German drivers, as he sees Mercedes as a global brand.

 

[Speck]

They reckon Ross & Co sold out to MB for £100 million profit and Jenson was offered £0.5 million on top of his £3 million 2009 salary.

I believe MB wouldn't let Ross offer him any more as they wanted a German team. They are really after Vettel long term. I wouldn't trust Boss Haug.

This is a good link for F1 stuff:

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/

 

[Crankarm]

You seem in a very combative mood today Cranky. Where did I say anything about posts being in praise of Hamilton? I was talking about the general public and teh number of people who suddenly started supporting Hamilton, despite never having expressed any interest whatever in F1 previously.
He is a good driver, mind, and I have a bit more time for him now he's had a season (well, half a season) at the back of the pack and dealt with it pretty well.

Don't believe I am. You're the one who brought up cult worship of Hamilton implying that those who have posted without expressly posting a dislike of him are somehow deluded followers of him. I believe those who endulge in cult worship obsessively follow one individulal or cause . Don't think anyone posting on here has given that impression.........yet .

 

[Speck]

I also think Honda will be miffed, they sold the team for One Euro !!!!

 

[Crankarm]

They reckon Ross & Co sold out to MB for £100 million profit and Jenson was offered £0.5 million on top of his £3 million 2009 salary.

I believe MB wouldn't let Ross offer him any more as they wanted a German team. They are really after Vettel long term. I wouldn't trust Boss Haug.

This is a good link for F1 stuff:

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/

And F1 behind the scenes is infamous for it's treachery.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Don't believe I am. You're the one who brought up cult worship of Hamilton implying that those who have posted without expressly posting a dislike of him are somehow deluded followers of him. I believe those who endulge in cult worship obsessively follow one individulal or cause . Don't think anyone posting on here has given that impression.........yet .

No, no, no. I didn't imply that, you inferred it. Besides, you're taking me far too literally, it was merely a figure of speech.

 

[Crankarm]

I also think Honda will be miffed, they sold the team for One Euro !!!!

Yeah, they must be kicking themselves .

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Yeah, they must be kicking themselves .

I wonder how they'd have got on with the Honda engine? The car might have been a right dog if the team had remained as Honda.

 

[philipbh]

Interesting that Lewis Hamilton is supposed to be receiving 12M a year , whilst JB is on half that.

Read somewhere that Brawn refused to meet JB's wage demand - lucky that there was an opening at McLaren