SILLY SEASON 2009/2010

There are no cool people left in F1. :(
 
Button to Mclaren is now officially official guys. Just trying to find a link to the press statement, its only twitter and copy-paste at the moment. Back in a sec

EDIT: Here it is. For some reason it wasn't showing up on the McLaren homepage in my browser but its on their site - http://www.mclaren.com/latestnews/press-releases.php?article=383. Site is already going very slowly so I'll copy-paste it here as I suspect it may crash soon!

VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES SIGNS REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION JENSON BUTTON TO MULTI-YEAR DEAL

Sensational double World Champion driver line-up created as Jenson Button joins Lewis Hamilton at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Woking, 18 November 2009: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is delighted to announce the signing of the reigning World Champion Jenson Button to a multi-year deal. He will be partnered by 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who will be embarking on his fourth consecutive season as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver.

This unique partnership will mark:

- The first time in Formula 1 history that a team has started the new season with a line-up featuring the most recent two successive World Champions

- The first pairing of two British World Champions since Graham Hill [1962, 1968] partnered Jim Clark [1963, 1965] at Lotus in 1968

Jenson Button
2009 Formula 1 World Champion
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car #1
?It?s always a difficult decision to leave a team when you?ve been there for so long. But life is all about challenges ? and, most important of all, it?s about challenging yourself. So, although I won the World Championship with Brawn GP last year, and I?ll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges.

?So that?s why I?ve decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. You can?t help but be affected by this team?s phenomenal history. McLaren is one of the greats of world sport, and its achievements and list of past champions read like a Who?s Who of Formula 1 ? Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and of course my new team-mate Lewis Hamilton. I?ve followed the McLaren team ever since I was a small boy, and it feels unbelievable to finally be a part of it.

?When I visited the McLaren Technology Centre earlier this month, it wasn?t simply the technical resources and the incredible standards of excellence that impressed me. No, I was equally struck by the ambition, the motivation and the winning spirit that flow through everybody there. And then there?s the team?s epic history: put it this way, the trophy cabinets seem to stretch for miles.

?From a personal point of view, it?s also a great pleasure to be joining a fellow British World Champion. Lewis has achieved an incredible level of success in a very short period of time, and he?s a wonderfully gifted driver who has earned the respect of every Formula 1 driver. I?m sure there?s plenty that we can learn from each other, and I?m really looking forward to using our combined knowledge to push the team forward.

?Also, I think it?s fantastic that we?ll be forming an all-British line-up. I know that we both fly the flag with pride, and I sincerely hope we can make the whole of the United Kingdom, as well as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes fans across the world, proud. Nothing means more to me than to be able to represent my country, and I?m looking forward to both of us painting Formula 1?s circuits red, white and blue for many years to come.

?While I?m fully aware that there?s a tremendous amount of hard work ahead, I?m absolutely certain that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be able to deliver where it matters: on track. I?m already looking forward to starting work with the engineers at the McLaren Technology Centre as we begin our preparations for the 2010 season ? and the defence of my world championship. This is a team that always goes racing to win, and I?m looking forward to being part of that.

?Last but very far from least, I want to say that the 2009 season will always have a special place in my memory, and I?m absolutely sure that everybody at Brawn GP who worked so hard to achieve our World Championship successes feels exactly the same way about it. Equally, I want to thank the guys at Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, without whom we?d never have been as competitive as we were. I?m so pleased that I?ll still be using their engines in 2010 and beyond.

?So I wish all my old Brawn GP mates well in their new Mercedes Grand Prix adventure, just as I hope they?ll wish me well in my new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes adventure.?

Lewis Hamilton
2008 Formula 1 World Champion
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car #2
?It?s fantastic news that Jenson has decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ? and I?m looking forward to working with him and our engineers to make sure we kick off the 2010 season with a car that?s competitive enough to win the World Championship ? but I want to send my best wishes for the future to my 2008-09 team-mate and now good friend Heikki Kovalainen, who is one of the nicest human beings I?ve ever met.

?I already know Jenson, and we get on very well together. We both really want our team to succeed. Although we?ll be pushing each other hard, I?m sure we?ll very quickly establish a great working relationship. He?s an exceptional driver: very controlled and very smooth, and he has a real depth of knowledge and experience. I think we?ll complement each other very well, and our collaboration will make the team stronger as a result. Also, I?m delighted to be racing alongside a fellow British World Champion, and I believe we can pull together to make Vodafone McLaren Mercedes the best team on the grid.

?I?m sure Jenson has already started to appreciate our team?s unique culture and the special family atmosphere that makes it such an incredible place to live and work. We really are like one big family ? and I?m sure Jenson will feel the warmth of that welcome from day one.

?Obviously, as a British driver, I?m also thrilled that we?ll be flying the flag for the United Kingdom, and I think today?s announcement is fantastic news for all British sports fans. I hope they?ll be giving us their full support when the season kicks off next March. I?m already looking forward to Silverstone ? it?ll be massive!

?Looking ahead, I think the results from the second half of 2009 speak for themselves, and I?m convinced we can carry that momentum through the winter and into the new season. I?ve been closely following the development of our 2010 challenger, the MP4-25, and I think it?s going to be a state-of-the-art car that will enable both of us to consistently fight for victories.?

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
?Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is absolutely delighted to be able to welcome Jenson to our team. It has always been our policy to employ the two very best possible drivers ? and, in Jenson and Lewis, we feel we not only have the fastest pairing on the 2010 grid, but also the two most complete, professional and dedicated drivers in Formula 1.

?Moreover, I?m confident that we?ll be able to successfully balance and harness Jenson?s and Lewis?s complementary skill-sets. Our engineers are already looking forward to working with Jenson, and I?m convinced that such a strong and dynamic driver line-up will make us an even more complete and competitive operation. Now we have to provide Jenson and Lewis with race-winning machinery.

?I want to make clear that Jenson?s decision to join us was in no way motivated by money. We?ll be paying him no more than he could be getting elsewhere, and that fact is a reflection of not only Jenson?s belief in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but also his desire and ambition to build on the phenomenal results he achieved during the 2009 season.

?I also want to thank Heikki for his selfless contribution over the past two years. As well as being very quick, Heikki was and remains a great character whom we?ll all miss considerably. It goes without saying that we wish him all the best for next season, and would be very pleased if he were to secure a good drive for 2010.

?We?re ambitious, we?re motivated and we?re hungrier than ever. We make no secret of our ambition for next year: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes wants to win both World Championships ? and, with Jenson and Lewis, we believe we?re better equipped than any other team in the pitlane to do exactly that.?
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Some other news, Gascoyne says that Trulli is an ideal driver for the team. So if their first driver is not Trulli, who is it? http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091118092209.shtml

List updated with Button -> McLaren.

Starting Drivers with contracts or team ending at seasons end (11):

Heikki Kovalainen (Out at McLaren. New team?)
Nick Heidfeld (Sauber? Mercedes?)
Romain Grosjean (Future has been thrown up in the air, but I expect he'll re-sign, at the least a test-driver.)
Jaime Alguersuari (Expect to re-sign)
Nico Rosberg (Brawn? Leaving Williams.)
Kazuki Nakajima (Leaving Williams. Maybe out of F1.)
Adrian Sutil (Re-sign?)
Jarno Trulli (Toyota quit. Malaysia?)
Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota quit. I completely forgot about this guy, I hope the other teams don't. Malaysia?)
Nelson Piquet (Force India? Campos? NASCAR?)
Luca Badoer (Don't laugh. The guy is still regarded as one of the best in test driving. Could be a valuable asset to a new team that is looking at running youngsters, like Campos.)

Test/Back up Drivers with contracts ending at the end of the year (8):

Pedro de la Rosa (Probably back with McLaren. Has been linked with Campos)
Gary Paffet (Was linked with Prodrive at one point. Who knows where he is going.)
Marc Gene (Has been linked with Campos. Probably out at Ferrari unless they decide to carry two test drivers again.)
Christian Klien (Staying with Sauber?)
David Coulthard (Has said he would like to race again, but who would give him a seat? Expect to stay with the BBC.)
Brendon Hartley (STR? The only reason he left was to concentrate more on his F3 and Renault World Series racing.)
Anthony Davidson (Give this man a seat! Has been linked with Manor and Lotus.)
Alexander Wurtz (Tried to start his own team. I wonder where he will end up.)

Seats open (11-13):

McLaren x0
Ferrari x0
Toyota loves hybrids too much
Renault x1
Red Bull x0
Toro Rosso x1
Williams x0
Force India x1 (**)
Brawn GP Mercedes GP x2
USF1 x2
Dallara-Campos x1
Manor F1 x1
Lotus Malaysia F1 x2
** Sauber F1 x2 (If they take Toyota's spot)

Drivers signed through next season (14?):

Lewis Hamilton - McLaren (He ain't leaving.)
Jenson Button - McLaren (Signed 11/18. Multi-year.)
Felipe Massa - Ferrari (Has a seat, according to Luca.)
Fernando Alonso - Ferrari (Signed 9/30. Three years.)
Giancarlo Fisichella - Ferrari (Signed contract at Monza, will become test driver after this year.)
Mark Webber - Red Bull Racing (Signed through 2010.)
Sebastien Vettel - RBR (He ain't leaving)
**Vitantonio Liuzzi - Force India (Signed through 2011, with race seat clause for next year.)
Robert Kubica - Renault (Signed 10/07)
Bruno Senna - Campos (signed 10/31. Rookie.)
Rubens Barrichello - Williams (Signed 11/2)
Nico Hulkenberg - Williams (Signed 11/2. Rookie.)
Sebastien Buemi - Toro Rosso (Signed 11/9.)
Timo Glock - Manor GP (Signed 11/17.)

Drivers leaving F1 for sure next season. (2)

Kimi Raikkonen - ??? (McLaren talks ended 11/17. Probably will go to rally)
Sebastien Bourdais - Superleague Formula - Sevilla FC (Canned from STR 7/16. Supposedly also in talks with both Peugeot in LMS and several IRL teams for next year)

I'll admit it. I love seeing Button at McLaren. I wish it was Kimi instead, but as a McLaren fan I feel really good about next season. This will be fun.

Thoughts?
 
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So in 4 years, Hamilton drove a car with containing the number "2" 3 times!

Seriously, McLaren....
 
A terrible decision by Button. There's no point going to McLaren where Lewis and his dadda will rule for at least 5 years to come. He would've had a spot at Brawn/Mercedes GP as the top driver but decided that money is a priority.

I expect this to be a big flop and we'll once again have the chance to hear Button complaining about how bad the car is. Hamilton might fight for podiums next season but Button will likely struggle to get a top-half finish. Alonso might get his third, he'll be very strong with a car that has been developed for months already.
 
The thing I don't get is why did Brawn let him leave? If his contract is 6 million/year, that's a bargain considering what Alonso, Kimi, and Hamilton have all made. Did Mercedes really want that all-German force, or was it a case of Brawn didn't think he would leave and negotiated too low?
 
Well I hope Button can do a better job than Kovalainen, but I can't see him challenging Hamilton in any significant shape or form. The only thing in his favour is the refuelling ban, which forces cars to start with a full tank, which will favour drivers who are easier on their tyres. Hamilton is traditionally very hard on his which could be to his disadvantage. We'll see what happens.

It would be the biggest injustice if the mediocre Heidfeld took the second Mercedes seat. There really is a dearth of talent at the top level of Formula One at the moment. You have guys like Alonso, Hamilton, and Massa I guess, with Vettel and Webber not far behind, and that's about it.
 
It would be interesting if Button could defend his title in 2010 precisely of the fact that he takes more care of his tires, and drives so smoothly.
 
:woot: I'm loving this. Absolutely perfect. Next year, if McLaren produce the car I'm sure they will, they will look everyone else look like they're stuck in reverse...
 
piercey said:
The thing I don't get is why did Brawn let him leave? If his contract is 6 million/year, that's a bargain considering what Alonso, Kimi, and Hamilton have all made. Did Mercedes really want that all-German force, or was it a case of Brawn didn't think he would leave and negotiated too low?
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I think he was on a one year deal with Brawn.
 
I think Button is going to struggle at McLaren, though not as much as Kovalainen has this season. The car is going to be designed with Hamilton's driving style in mind which is aggressive while Button is more of a finesse driver. Then again I also don't believe Brawn/Merc would have been able to design such a dominant car or a car which was as suited to his driving style again for 2010. I think Button was the right driver in the right car this year and is unlikely to be as successful as he was this year.
 
piercey said:
It was. I'm saying if his new contract is 6mil a year, why the hell did Mercedes not match that?
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They did. It wasn't about the money, Button just thought he would be better off at McLaren.

Martin Whitmarsh said:
?I want to make clear that Jenson?s decision to join us was in no way motivated by money. We?ll be paying him no more than he could be getting elsewhere, and that fact is a reflection of not only Jenson?s belief in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but also his desire and ambition to build on the phenomenal results he achieved during the 2009 season.
 
terrible mistake by Jenson.

Chances are he will probably regret it in 2010.

edit : Jackie Stewart reckon its a bad move too.

Stewart: Button wrong to change teams
By Matt Beer Wednesday, November 18th 2009, 13:53 GMT



Triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart believes Jenson Button has been unwise to move from Brawn to McLaren.

McLaren announced earlier today that it would pair the last two world champions next year, having signed Button alongside its current lead driver Lewis Hamilton.

Stewart reckons Hamilton's long relationship with McLaren will make him very hard for Button to beat.

"It will be difficult for him to take on Lewis Hamilton," Stewart told BBC Radio Five. "It's like walking into the lion's den, because Lewis has had three years with McLaren now. He has it his way.

"He's already disposed of one driver that came in there in Alonso. Fernando couldn't cut it against Lewis Hamilton, and I think that Lewis will want to retain his position of prominence in that team. Whereas at Brawn, I think [Button] would have had an advantage over his [potential] team-mate Nico Rosberg, having knowledge of the team.

"What we're looking at today is two guys who want to be number one. That situation in one team sometimes makes imperfect bed partners, because there will be differences from time to time, even though McLaren are probably the best engineering team with the most capacity to do the job."

Button had looked set to stay at Brawn for next season, but could not agree terms with the world champion team, which has now been taken over by Mercedes.

Stewart thinks Button underestimated the value of the strong relationship he had established with Ross Brawn's team.

"I think it's a mistake by Jenson," he said. "If I was Jenson, I would've wanted to do a deal with Brawn - because I know the culture of the Brawn team, I have high respect for Ross Brawn, I know the mechanics.

"There's a totally different culture in McLaren, something that he might never have experienced before. They have a very clinical culture which doesn't have the emotion or the drive in the same passionate way that Brawn would have had with him there as the reigning world champion."

But Stewart acknowledged that McLaren will provide Button with a very competitive package for 2010.

"I do believe that the McLaren car next season will be one of, if not the, best car on the grid, as Ferrari will also be better next year," said Stewart. "So he's going to a team that wants to succeed."
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I do agree that from Jenson's point of view it isn't a very smart thing to do (unless he truly believes he's quicker than Lewis). But for McLaren, it's really perfect, so I'm ecstatic...
 
Sir Stiggington said:
I do agree that from Jenson's point of view it isn't a very smart thing to do (unless he truly believes he's quicker than Lewis). But for McLaren, it's really perfect, so I'm ecstatic...
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This is how I see it too. And although Button probably wont be happy as a number two, which he is IMO destined to become by say, Canada next year, he will be a far better team mate to Lewis then Fernando was. Either way, how epic is the ferrari/mclaren battle going to be next year? They both are in all likelihood going to be much faster then this year, and look at those line ups! Constructors championship will be epic. Especially if Red Bull maintains form and Rosberg (making another assumption here) fits in well at Mercedes.
 
Sir Stiggington said:
I do agree that from Jenson's point of view it isn't a very smart thing to do (unless he truly believes he's quicker than Lewis). But for McLaren, it's really perfect, so I'm ecstatic...
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Speed is the last thing Jenson is worried about, he has the speed to match hamilton's pace. It's an unwise move because the team has revolved around hamilton as #1 for the past few years.
 
MadCow809 said:
Speed is the last thing Jenson is worried about, he has the speed to match hamilton's pace. It's an unwise move because the team has revolved around hamilton as #1 for the past few years.
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...and you think Kimi would fare any better?
 
kimi knows all the mechanics & engineers already. He has worked with the team before.
 
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