Button, Kimi visit McLaren factory
November 13, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events
Just a quick note on this piece of news, to keep everyone here informed: Jenson Button visited Woking (I guess on Friday).
What’s maybe funny, though, is that the story highlighting this relegates Kimi Raikkonen’s visit to an after thought.
The BBC is the source for this bit of Brawn-deflating news, and the location of journalists who apparently doubt Kimi will be driving anywhere in 2010:
Jenson Button has visited the McLaren headquarters in Woking as doubts continue over who the world champion will be driving for next season.
Button and manager Richard Goddard were given a tour by McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh, the Guardian reported.
Button, 29, took a pay cut to drive for the new Brawn team after Honda quit F1 last year, but he is now stalling over an improved offer.
[snip]
McLaren, one of the better-funded teams on the grid, would certainly be in a position to afford a bigger salary, and a car that regularly outperformed Brawn’s during the latter part of the 2009 season.
Goddard was unavailable for comment on Friday evening but had earlier told the Guardian: “As I’ve said many times before, Jenson wants to drive a car which is capable of winning the next world championship.
“We’ve been talking about possible terms for 2010 with Brawn for months and we’re not being difficult or unreasonably expensive in our demands for Jenson. In fact we’ve given up quite a lot of negotiating ground in our discussions with them.”
Kimi Raikkonen was another driver to visit the McLaren factory this week with the 2007 world champion’s future still to be decided following his forced exit from Ferrari to make way for Fernando Alonso.
F1B will have at least one Op-Ed on Kimi Raikkonen, most likely Monday. A little preview: An F1 team should definitely hire the Finn… but for what? Stay tuned!
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Hows about, Raikkonen out, Hamilton and Button at McLaren, Rosberg and Davidson to Brawn?
Personally, I don’t want Button at Brawn, not entirely sure why especially as I’m a huge Hamilton supporter and I think it would make him look better. I think it would be a bad move for Button, Brawn GP is built around him, and he’s come so far with them, why leave now? Is Button strong enough to even match Hamilton? I strongly doubt it…
On the other hand, I love Anthony Davidson to pieces and would LOVE to see him in a decent Brawn and able to shine next season!
I just want McLaren to make a decision now :P
I am of the opinion that FOM/CVC/FIA should make mandatory for all F1 teams to hire only British Drivers… and have contest on M1 first ten drivers get F1 drive.
If Davidson gets a race seat everyone driving on M1 is eligible. But for British Press, Ant is pretty much a test driver who drove gazillion test miles at some point. His time is done and he is better off partnering croft on Radio
I’d take Kimi over Button any day, try to get a Starbucks sponsorship too to keep the Fin awake!
But have to say, I like the idea of Nick with Hamilton. Nick is decently quick and consistent (something neither Button or Kimi are known for) and he’s seasoned enough without a huge head or ego on his shoulders (as far as I know) that I think he’d fit good in McLaren.
It really is hard to imagine Button settling for being a No. 2. And if he thinks he’s going to get a fair shake at McLaren, well… he’ll be the only one thinking that.
Then again, maybe he knows he caught lightning in a bottle and figures he needs to make some cash when the opportunity is there.
Take away the ego that comes from being WDC, he might be a solid No. 2 for a long while. That is, if you hate him highly, which we all don’t.
I know Button surely knows he need to cash in on his WDC, and as such #2 status @ McLaren wouldn’t be a bad proposition as long as the bank balance is taken care of. This year things just fell into his lap, he is not the one who is going to toil around and fight for thing. After all toiling and hardwork doesn’t exactly goes well with the Press propped “Smooth Style” does it :D
If Kimi is really serious about “Wanting race winning car to stay in F1″ he should drop the Robertsons, take realistic view of money that Brawn/McLaren can offer and sign a contract with either.
Horrible news. I am sick of McLaren taking on drivers that I don’t give a hoot about. Come on Macca, just sign Kimi already. Or better yet, steal Webber away from RBR.