Scuderia Toro Rosso has announced that Carlos Sainz will join the team with immediate effect. It means that our driver line-up for the 2015 season is now established as Max Verstappen and Carlo Sainz.
Post here all non technical related topics about Formula One. This includes race results, discussions, testing analysis etc. TV coverage and other personal questions should be in Off topic chat.
"Since we issued that press release," the spokesman continued, "Ron (Dennis) has said 'Any decision has to be supported by the shareholders and the board'."
And the spokesman clarified: "There is a McLaren Group board meeting later this week."
Widespread reports indicate it is actually taking place on Thursday.
Team supremo Dennis added: "It's pretty understandable we're looking chiefly at two people, but there's a broader choice than Kevin and Jenson.
"Nevertheless, whatever the decision, it won't be taken until then."
Germany's Sport Bild claims McLaren is split into two camps, with Dennis favouring Magnussen but shareholders Mansour Ojjeh, the Bahrainis and perhaps even Alonso pushing hard for 2009 world champion Button to be retained.
"Since we issued that press release," the spokesman continued, "Ron (Dennis) has said 'Any decision has to be supported by the shareholders and the board'."
And the spokesman clarified: "There is a McLaren Group board meeting later this week."
Widespread reports indicate it is actually taking place on Thursday.
Team supremo Dennis added: "It's pretty understandable we're looking chiefly at two people, but there's a broader choice than Kevin and Jenson.
"Nevertheless, whatever the decision, it won't be taken until then."
Germany's Sport Bild claims McLaren is split into two camps, with Dennis favouring Magnussen but shareholders Mansour Ojjeh, the Bahrainis and perhaps even Alonso pushing hard for 2009 world champion Button to be retained.
We could see Alonso Vettel in theory. But the door is open just as much to any driver with a Super License.I think McLaren needs all new drivers or at least 1 new driver.
EDIT im an Idiot we cant see Vettel obviously what i meant was in theory we can see any driver with out a contract hired and they did state that they are open to more then just Magg or Button..
Last edited by Racer X on 03 Dec 2014, 07:47, edited 1 time in total.
Richard wrote:This image sums up McLaren's problem. Here's a major luxury brand paying money to sponsor an F1 team and in return they get an image of an anonymous driver. The other ads in the series has a recognizable sports star, ie Sharapova & Ronaldo. I imaging TAG are a bit annoyed they can't have a smiling Button or Alonso in that pic, so they're also running an ad with Steve McQueen in his racing helmet.
Also the strapline is rather apt for McLaren at the moment!
Racer X wrote:We could see Alonso Vettel in theory. But the door is open just as much to any driver with a Super License.I think McLaren needs all new drivers or at least 1 new driver.
No, Vettel is driving for Ferrari.. and Alonso has left Ferrari.. so no Alonso vs. Vettel combo.
Racer X wrote:We could see Alonso Vettel in theory. But the door is open just as much to any driver with a Super License.I think McLaren needs all new drivers or at least 1 new driver.
No, Vettel is driving for Ferrari.. and Alonso has left Ferrari.. so no Alonso vs. Vettel combo.
Yeah i agree im sorry i edited my original comment thats not what i meant to say but you are right what i meant was in theory we can see any driver with OUT a contract hired and they did state that they are open to more then just Magg or Button..
Autosprint rumours that Alonso is following Hulkenberg and will be driving 24h of Le Mans in 2015 alongside the F1 season. Rumours say that Alonso share a car with Hulkenberg at Porsche, but I don't think Mclaren would be allowing that, unless they have a LMP1 program of their own, then Alonso would drive for them I think. So it stays just a rumour for now...
Alonso is at McLaren and seems to be doing a limited Porsche LMP1 program as well in the same car as HUL and the reject of MAG/BUT.
Id suggest that Mclaren will announce next week who they will have with ALO. There is a meeting of the shareholders and the racing board at McLaren tomorrow, the wariness where the racing board want MAG and the operating board want BUT will be drawn. However, ill also suggest that Honda will be at the meeting and will also ultimately have the deciding say, or the say that changes enough minds in one board or another. Ill stick my neck out and say that it will be ALO/BUT with MAG doing 2 days pre season, 3 in season days and maybe 6 FP1s in BUT car at select races in order to keep him sharp, then put him in the Porsche with ALO/HUL for LM24 to keep him race sharp as well. Then have him take over from BUT for 2016. Remember Alonso in at Renault where he spent a year as a Test Driver, thats what id do with MAG, who just needs a bit of extra polish in order to take that extra step.
If someone said to me that you can have three wishes, my first would have been to get into racing, my second to be in Formula 1, my third to drive for Ferrari.
I believe that the McLaren board is less interested in 2015 and more in 2016 and beond. Next year will be a rebuilding year with the new Honda PU, etc etc. I believe the waiting is on no other then Hamilton. I don't say he's the best or fastest f1 driver at the moment but he is the most marketable, which means more pounds for McLaren.
If Hamilton signs a multi year deal with Mercedes, Alonso gets a big multi year contract at McLaren, if not, will push ham for an very big check and get button and someone else on a one year contract for 2015.
With an imminent decision, a few of the options for the McLaren second seat:
1. Keep Button, drop Magnussen
2. Keep Magnussen, drop Button
3. Keep Button, push Magnussen to test team
4. Keep Button, fund Magnussen seat elsewhere
5. Drop both, add third driver, perhaps Japanese
6. Drop Button, add third driver to main seat, push Magnussen to test team
7. Drop Magnussen, add third driver to main seat, move Button to ambassador role (like Coulthard at Red Bull)
8. Drop Alonso, keep both
This signature is encrypted to avoid complaints, but it makes me laugh out loud:-
16S75 13E7K 41C53 7CT23 14O5O 67R32 76175 90B67 L4L42 41O63 72W56 98M10 52E87
The McLaren board meeting is today, I wonder how/when the news will break? If bad for Button then courtesy would allow him to announce the end of his F1 career himself. If good news for Button then I imagine the team will announce the line up and Magnessen will go to wherever reject F1 drivers go?
