haven't been paying much attention actually....

So how real is this about Renault selling the team? Is this truly happening? I haven'd seen anything other than what you're quoting above.

http://www.corsaonline.com.ar/2009/10/22/N...l-del-tunel.php

Ok. So, 15 days after Abu Dhabi we should know if José María López will race for USF1 or not. That's definitely his main chance, as Campos doesn't seem to take him in account really, although CORSA assures that Campos has other problems: they still haven't paid the 45 miilion to secure their position for next year (Do they have to do that before november?)and there are rumours that Campos will sell its license to another team in the end (!). The article also says that De la Rosa has said NO to Campos, but I don't know where they heard that. In Brazil, Felipe McGough, who's leading the talks about López, met Windsor and the conversations will take a new boost as USF1 has solved the issues with the FIA about their European facility.

That is by far the silliest story of the silly season so far.

There's only one name that comes to mind as to a potential buyer of the Enstone-based F1 Team: David Pender Richards CBE of Prodrive fame.

And since he did a deal with Kuwaitis (?) to take-over Aston Martin Lagonda, he might work with Russians to take-over Enstone. Richards actually knows the team a bit from his Benetton days, 1997-1998.

How Richard's Mercedes co-operation in both F1 and as engine supplier for Aston Martin would work out, with a Prodrive-Renault on the F1 grid, I don't know, but that might change come 2012, when the exclusive McLaren-Mercedes deal runs out.

There might well have been a clause to end the contract in the event of Prodrive not being given a spot on the grid.

I was actually referring to rumours to this effect, but is their already a deal with McLaren and/or Mercedes?

I think such a deal would depend on Richards actually making it to the grid. He's tried on three occasions now, and been rejected three times. A contract saying "If you make it next time, we'll give you the engines" sounds a little woolly to me.

James Allen says that a Vodafone source indicates there wouldn't be any problems on Jenson Button joining Mclaren.

No, this is what he actually says:

#f1 Daily Mail reporting a Vodafone source saying they wouldn't mind having Jenson Button at McLaren. Strengthens Jenson's hand ...

Something very different to what you're posting.

What is going on at Mclaren??? Button?? They should have signed Kubica when they had the chance. They need a strong driver to lead the team and pick up points when Hamilton bins it. Button is weak when under pressure. he wont be able to handle Anthony and Lewis' games. At this rate Massa and Alonso are going to Slaughter them next year.

Yeah, like he showed at Interlagos.

For a former Formula One driver, you're very poorly informed. Do you honestly think that Button simply couldn't cope with the pressure when every other team had the budget to upgrade their cars? Cars and teams don't remain static; if the do, they might as well be standing still. Button had the lead, but the other teams made up the difference.

Yes, like he showed during the second half of the season.



You put it beautifully.

Doesnt change the fact that he was badly outperformed by Rubinho when the going and pressure got tough. I like Button, but i dont htink he will be able to handle Lewis. He'll be a number 2 at Mclaren, He wont be able to challenge

This "Buttons poor 2nd half of the season stuff"has gotten a bit out of perspective. He did what he needed to do in a car that was not as good compared to its rivals as it was at the start of the season. He shadowed his teammate during the 2nd half and won the WDC by 15 points with a race to spare - he was not "badly outperformed" by his teamamte unless you consider quali to be the only yardstick - not the races , you know where you actually get the WDC points. No he didnt win any races but he was very consistant in the races - something none of his rivals were able to achieve.

Considering the last 2 seasons have gone down to the wire and 1 point looking back at the bare facts will make this year seem like a stroll in comparison.

I think you are spot on. So when teams have equally good cars, it's the driver that makes the difference, and Button didn't fair too well. So I don't think Button is such a great choice for Mac.

Who said he's going to McLaren for certain? The Daily Mail are the ones reporting it, and here's an indicator of just how reliable they are: when the James Bond film Quantum of Solace was being filmed in Panama, there was a strike on the opposite side of the city by workers wanting more pay. The Daily Mail reported it as a gang war that the producers had inadvertently started after some of their equipment was stolen, and that Daniel Craig was involved in a real-life firefight with live ammunition, and even shot a man.

So do you still think Button has already signed for McLaren?

The only times when J.A.L. Button was truly outperformed by R.G. Barrichello, was in Britain (6th to 3rd), and Europe (7th to 1st), and punted off into retirement in Belgium, in the 2nd half of the season, while he was either ahead of him (Germany, Hungary, Singapore, Brazil) or only a single position behind him (Italy, Japan) on other occasions. Hardly cracking under pressure, that is…

Rubens pole position
Jenson 14 on grid

5 cars fell off track in front - Kimi, Trulli, Sutil, Alonso and Rosberg, without incidents like these Button would have found it hard to score points at Interlagos.

Button took advantage of that and that is what one would expect.

Hamilton did the same thing last year: he took advantage of Glock's deteriorating tyres to win the championship.

Who are you?

Not the former F1 driver he claims he is.

Did you watch the race ? It looks like you just glanced at the results on monday's newspapers.

On the BBC sport website, the ticker now reads

"FORMULA 1: New world champion Jenson Button could join McLaren next season"

No link to an article yet though..

Could this be the shock Noble was talking about a while back?

No chance.

Key word highlighted.

Welcome to six hours ago.

I doubt this is what Noble was referring to, as McLaren have only begun to show "interest" in Button since he won the championship.

6 hours ago is 6 AM where I live


I'm interested to see what "basis" the BBC have for this article.

It's just gossip, messenger and all that.

I'd say gossip. I've tracked the articles back to see who was coming up with them first, and I can't find anyone who published it before The Daily Mail and The Sun.

Did you see the context in which that comment was raised?

Yeah you are right, Whitmarsh does not mention Button at all.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8322334.stm

Well, Rosberg and .... who in Brawn? I guess Kimi in Brawn - yahooo!!!

If they cant afford Bunsen, How will they hope to secure the services of Kimi "Gimme lots a money" Raikkonen

how much were you paid?

I was a pay driver, but a good one.

Wait so this FormerF1Driver was actually a Former F1 Driver

thats what I asumed, Philippe

I doubt it.

I assume he is Philippe Adams, utterly useless driver, even in domestic TC, he couldnt keep that A4 on the track

How many seats will Mclaren have for 2010?

Lewis
Rosberg
Kimi
De la Rosa
Button

And why is Hamilton afraid of Kimi?

If I had to reason out a guess, it's that he doesn't want to be upstaged by Raikkonen or competing with him for race victories, which could compromise a championship bid. It happened to Red Bull; their drivers were too busy taking points out of one other t stand still long enough and take the fight to Brawn.

Is their anyone who the Hamiltons wont veto? Grosjean, Heikki, maybe Fauzy, Summerton....

He wont want Senna, because he wont be able to play the "New Senna" card. He might be still a bit wary of Piquet whom he fought in GP2. Its looking better by the day for young Kovalainen

maybe they will keep kovalainen afterall

So rumour has it Vitaly Petrov will also take part in the Renault young driver test days. It could be between him and Senna to partner Kubica if the much mooted Russian backing comes on board.

They'll be the East European All-Stars, then.

Not to blow my own trumpt here, but I have a vague memory of tossing out a wild idea a few days ago that would see Petrov join Renault with MegaFon backing him ...

Finished in the points in every race bar one, which he was knocked out of.

He wants us to believe so.