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McLaren sign Fernando Alonso but will Jenson Button be his teammate? Jenson Button’s F1 future left dangling by dithering McLaren
(34 minutes later)
The buildup to Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was meant to be all about Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg but instead the noisy bandwagon has temporarily been taken over by Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel – whose switch to Ferrari was confirmed on Thursday. The buildup to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was meant to be all about Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg but instead the bandwagon has been taken over temporarily by Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, whose switch to Ferrari was confirmed on Thursday.
Vettel, Alonso and Button sat alongside each other at a press conference here shortly after it was announced that Vettel was leaving Red Bull, taking Alonso’s place at Ferrari, with the Spaniard poised to move back to McLaren. Little wonder Button looked rather sad in their company, with the Brit aware that his days at the team that he joined in 2009, shortly after becoming world champion, look numbered. Vettel, Alonso and Button sat alongside each other at a press conference shortly after it was announced Vettel was leaving Red Bull to take Alonso’s place at Ferrari, with the Spaniard poised to move back to McLaren. Little wonder Button looked rather sad in their company, with the British driver aware his days at the team he joined in 2009, shortly after becoming world champion, look numbered.
Disgracefully, McLaren are going into the last race of the season without settling their muddled minds on who will drive with Alonso next season, Button or his 22-year-old team-mate Kevin Magnussen.Disgracefully, McLaren are going into the last race of the season without settling their muddled minds on who will drive with Alonso next season, Button or his 22-year-old team-mate Kevin Magnussen.
Button was asked if his drive on Sunday could decide his future. Quite rightly the 33-year-old looked incredulous. “I would hope not,” he said. “I would hope that the result this weekend would not change my fate for the future. I feel that I bring a lot more to a team than just one race. I hope that my career would speak a lot louder than one individual performance.” Button was asked if his drive on Sunday could decide his future. Quite rightly the 34-year-old looked incredulous. “I would hope not,” he said. “I would hope that the result would not change my fate. I feel that I bring a lot more to a team than just one race. I hope my career would speak a lot louder than one individual performance.”
For all his bullishness Button, after 15 years in Formula One, with that one and only world title in 2009 as well as 1,174 points and eight poles, goes into the final race of the season here not knowing what his future holds. He wasn’t planning to throw a party in any case but it is still an astonishing state of affairs and explains why Button fans have recently been taking to social media to express their angry say on the matter. Button can take care of himself but it’s still a poor show. For all his bullishness Button, after 15 years in Formula One with that one world title in 2009 as well as 1,174 points and eight poles, goes into the final race of the season not knowing what his future holds. He was not planning to throw a party in any case but it is still an astonishing state of affairs and explains why Button fans have recently been taking to social media to express their anger. Button can take care of himself but it is still a poor show.
It is possible to feel even more sorry for Magnussen, who has now missed the opportunity to move to a smaller team. If he is shown the door at this late stage his career in F1 could well be over. Given their terminal indecision, the right thing would surely be for McLaren to keep the experienced Button alongside Alonso, especially with his Honda background, and retain Magnussen as their test driver. It is possible to feel even more sympathy for Magnussen, who has missed the opportunity to move to a smaller team. If he is shown the door at this late stage his career in F1 could be over. Given their indecision, the right thing would be for McLaren to keep the experienced Button alongside Alonso, especially with his Honda background, and retain Magnussen as their test driver.
There was one delicious moment during Thursday’s press conference when Alonso was asked if he would choose Button as his team-mate for 2015. “Hmm,” he replied, and it was a hmm that went on for ever.There was one delicious moment during Thursday’s press conference when Alonso was asked if he would choose Button as his team-mate for 2015. “Hmm,” he replied, and it was a hmm that went on for ever.
“Take your time,” Button told him, before adding: “When you are put in an uncomfortable situation your eyes are opened to other possibilities. And there are a lot of challenges out there. The time I’ve spent with McLaren has been great, it’s like a big family. So I’ve loved working for them. Will I wait for the decision. That’s something I can’t comment on right now.” “Take your time,” Button told him, before adding: “When you are put in an uncomfortable situation your eyes are opened to other possibilities and there are a lot of challenges out there. The time I’ve spent with McLaren has been great, it’s like a big family. So I’ve loved working for them. Will I wait for the decision. That’s something I can’t comment on right now.”
Meanwhile, Alonso said he had doubts about his Ferrari future last year. “It was not a special moment of the year that I opened my eyes,” he said. “Last year I had some doubts about 2014. I knew that it was a big change of regulations so I thought best thing to check how the 2014 new turbo era was going for Ferrari. I was in talks even last year, to be honest, and we waited for this year, the new car, the new turbo era, and this year I felt around summertime/September that it was time to move.” Alonso said he had doubts about his Ferrari future last year. “It was not a special moment of the year that I opened my eyes,” he said. “Last year I had some doubts about 2014. I knew it was a big change of regulations so I thought the best thing to check was how the 2014 new turbo era was going for Ferrari. I was in talks even last year, to be honest, and we waited for this year, the new car, the new turbo era, and this year I felt around summertime/September that it was time to move.”
Vettel, talking about his switch to Ferrari, said: “I think it felt like the right time. It is not an easy decision to make, I’ve been with Red Bull for my entire life since I was 12-years-old, supported by them and I have a very, very strong link to all the people in Austria.” Vettel, talking about his switch to Ferrari, said: “I think it felt like the right time. It is not an easy decision to make, I’ve been with Red Bull for my entire life since I was 12-years-old, supported by them and I have a very strong link to all the people in Austria.”
Meanwhile, as British fans brace themselves for the departure of Button at least they can welcome another home driver in the shape of Will Stevens, who will fill Caterham’s vacant seat this weekend, it was also announced on Thursday. As British fans brace themselves for the departure of Button at least they can welcome another home driver in the shape of Will Stevens, who will fill Caterham’s vacant seat in Abu Dhabi.
Stevens will team up with Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi on Sunday for a Caterham team who have been saved from oblivion – at least for now – by a crowd-funding project. The 23-year-old will partner Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi in a Caterham team who have been saved from oblivion – at least for now – by a crowd-funding project. Stevens was previously part of the Caterham Racing Academy and has twice tested for the team.
“I feel ready for the challenge of my F1 debut.” Stevens said. Button should perhaps have a quiet word with him. “I feel ready for the challenge of my F1 debut,” he said. Button should perhaps have a quiet word.