If we were to think this way 99% of the drivers would deserve a chance, but unfortunately the F1 and things in general don't work like this.
I'm sure the people in F1 that are making the choises have their reasons.

In sports beside talent you have to have also a chance, an opportunity and sometimes it's only one chance. Some have both, some only talent, some only opportunity(the lucky ones ).
So, I think that N.H didn't had the opportunity, he seems a nice guy, but who are we to be so sure that it would have been very succesfull.

I F1, even in a top team with a good car, a lot of things need to go well in order to achieve a great goal.
It's no use to think like this : what IF ..... it's a question mark and suppositions, no answer.

Again, where are statements from Kimi or Robertson the disagreement is about money?

Alao, Mac know (painfully) that a good driver is to be humiliated by hamilton (as Kov have been), so replacing him with anything less than a star will not do if they should compete with Ferrari. I have hard times thinking that Mac like another driver miles behind Hamilton. NOT GOOD PR!
And don't forget that Mac has detailed info from kimi's previous years. They know his speed.

Aye.

In a crowd of people screaming "Brawn are underweight/hunting for sponsors" last off-season, Rinehart was the sole voice of reason who believed their pace was real. I'd trust his opinion over my own grandma's

Even over Robertson himself who says its not about money? Interesting..

Quite impressive, you're not even banned yet? You make the old drivel of Dan2K look good.

Hey RodrigoL, who's the guy in your avatar picture? Every time I see it, I think "what the hell is Mel Gibson doing with that Ferrari gear?".

Could be one of Ruben's old engineers or sth..I always found this pic hilarious:
http://a.imagehost.org/0372/f1-2005-jap-xp-0374.jpg

And how do you know how much Kimi is asking...? You don´t, so stop saying he is asking huge salary
I still believe that everything important like money and length of contract was agreed month ago...

Well clowns run the show.

It seems we need to wait another Friday.

Your argument falls appart if it would have been a Mercedes decision instead of Ron.

Further erroding your argument is
-Brawn offered him a job at Honda last year
-there were no other top teams, with MS a German, already at Ferrari
-Unlike Kimi, Nick made short work of Massa, (I know. Different times)

Of course, Kimi at McLaren would be a better solution. A marketers dream.
But talent wise, there is no proof whatsoever that Heidfeld could not do just as well.

Pressure. Poor Grandma...!

The point of the post was about the negotiating position. If, as you say, they are still negotiating. Which they are, I'm fairly sure.

Ok thanks, at least I know now it's not Mel Gibson!

Bad news

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/1...n-mclaren-brawn

It seems like Jenson is going to McLaren next year.

It doesn't at all, according to ITV it was Kimi on Weds.

No... it was his managers only who visited MTC on Wednesday.
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=47410

Alan Henry: "McLaren have made Kimi Raikkonen their second choice if the Button approach fails, with Nick Heidfeld third favourite."

Guess who's not going to have a drive next year...

It seems like Alan Henry is dreaming.

Henri Karjalainen?

Alan Henry writes like he is pretty certain though. No word from JB's camp however that they are in talks with Mclaren.

It seems no-one can be sure, according to the link you posted. (The Guardian Link)

"McLaren also played host to Raikkonen on Wednesday when the 2007 world champion visited their base with his managers, David and Steve Robertson."

If true, a seat at Brawn opens up though. For some reason Raikkonen doesn't seem to be even thinking about it (because of the money?) However, it would shake up the driver market quite a bit. Maybe they'd go with a Rosberg-Heidfeld all-german lineup?

Brawn - All German lineup
McLaren - All British lineup
Ferrari - All Latin lineup
RBR - Vettel and Webbo
Williams - Experience and youth
...

Interesting season!

Only missing is an All Finn lineup...

There will be a half Finn on the silver cars.

Oh, the journos get conflicting reports from "reliable inside sources", that must be a first

To complicate matters further we dont know which car will be silver next year.

Henry has been very anti-Kimi all these years. This is just wishful thinking on his part.

Spot on.

I don't buy this sh.t. Looks like somebody wants a little bit more money from Ross.

The world at war.

In fact i think it´s also an ultimatum from McLaren to Kimi "u take it or u leave it, we are ready to go without you".

Hurray! Can't wait to see Button in McLaren.

To be honest, I would find it a bit disappointing if JB went to McLaren next year.
He's been with this team (BAR-Honda-Brawn, whatever they're called) for 7 years, suffered with them a lot, he finally gets a car with which he can win the WDC, and then he leaves the team for money? (Sadly, in this case it's obvious that his focus is on money.)
It would be bad for his career too, because I'm sure he would be beaten by Hamilton easily, much more easily than by Nico at Brawn. I don't think he would ever have a chance again to win a WDC if he went to Macca. Then again, Brawn (or Mercedes or anything the team will become..) may not have a good car next year - but still, I think having a good season with a not-so-good car and beating your team mate is better than being No. 2 with no chance against your team mate ( I might be wrong, but I rate Lewis much higher than Jenson).

Anyway, I can imagine Button being higher up on Macca's list than Kimi.... for "safety" reasons. 2007 is just too fresh in their mind, I think. I can also recall some Whitmarsh comments from Silverstone, where he said that how good it is to have a British WDC in a British team, and that maybe Macca became a more popular team in Britain with Lewis, and being popular in Britain is important for them. Maybe he thinks that they would be even more popular with an all-British line-up...?

I am sorry but there is no guarantee that Brawn will make a winning car next year. Only two teams have consistent record of race winning cars. McLaren and Ferrari. Kimi according to his fans went to Ferrari because it was best for his career.

Similarly Button going to McLaren would be best for his career. Brawn are being arrogant by not paying him well after he took a paycut to save the team. McLaren wants Button, Button wants McLaren. It's not all about money.

1, I said so in my post too;

2, I don't think it would be very good for his career, for the reasons I stated above - even if McLaren is a championship contender. These 2 years at Woking haven't done much good to Kova's career - although I believe Button is way better than Kova, I don't think he would be able to beat (or equal) Hamilton.

I think there might be a strong element of that in it, who knows, I believe Button wants to stay with Brawn, but the stumbling block is money.

Interestingly enough, I just got word that the Bulgarian (of all things) TV channel, BTV just announced that Kimi is going to McLaren. And that the Robertsons have signed a preliminary contract with McLaren during their visit in Woking. According to my Bulgarian friend, BTV doesnt announce something unless they are very certain.

Well I don't bother comment this stuff without confirmation.

Then Button's trip to Woking wouldn't be too logical.

Another one? Several people insisted he had sign a pre-contract ages ago. Think I'll wait for an official announcement.

As will I. Just thought it was interesting, which is why I mentioned it

Button went to Woking after Kimi had already signed a contract with macca simply because he is about to replace Lewis.. isn't this obvious.. ?

Wow, looks like McLaren can have their pick of a lot of drivers: Button, Kimi, Rosberg, Kubica, Heidfield, Heikki.

If Kimi does not end up with a seat next year it would simply mean that his personal interests are more important than his desire to race in Formula 1 which is exactly what Luca said about him when he fired him. They did not want a driver who races for himself but for the team - that is the essence of Ferrari..

I just believe (okay hoping) Kimi goes to Mclaren. It is just make for so much more fun and intertainment.

Button will get murdered next to Lewis and kill his career.

On the otherhand Lewis might murder Kimi or Kimi murder Lewis. The possible is just not there for Button to get one over Lewis.

I think whoever goes to McLaren, be it Raikkonen or Button, it wont be as much "fun" as it will be watching Massa and Alonso next year, driving for the team.

Bad news? Thats great news if you are British and you actually support McLaren.