Disagree Kimi was very good at development according to the McLaren engineers also he's very consistent which is an engineers dream as he knows if something is working or not also Jenson reportedly struggled once Rubens stopped giving him help with the Setup. I am excited just and happy as Jenson is fast but worried by the media frenzy that will surround us next season.

Well I just see Kovy's weaknesses in Jense - quite often outfoxed on Lap1, fairly prone to collisions, classical arc cornering style.

Kovy also did a fantastic job of keeping his head up in adversity, which we haven't always seen from Jense.

So I'm not sure it's an upgrade.

For Heikki he's a cracking lad and I wish him all the best for the future.

I'm really bored about this "while not the fastest" thing about the World Champion who won six! races this season.....give this guy a little respect. What if he will kick Lewis's fast ass next year ? I remember him very very fast with that Honda years ago. When the car began to deliver, Button was immediately on it ! This move to Mclaren underlines that at least he has balls...after the 2007 season, and he has definitely the will to beat Lewis. I'm very curious what will happen !

*cough* ... Someone who doenst maximize the car doesnt make mistakes, consider that will ya? ... "JB can finish majority of the races", uuuh howmany times did Lewis retire from a race due his own fault?

Never the less, welcome Jenson, welcome aboard.

Too bad there's no testing. Givien the driver market and technical changes, it'd be a mouth watering winter testing.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/...d-bob-comeback/
This guy just doesn't learn does he?

I wish him all the best aswell

But let's be honest last year he should of been arrested on suspicion of impersonating an F1 driver

I would expect JB to give his all an try to be better or at the very least be competitive against LH but I personally think he is going to find it a tall order.
His success at Mclaren depends on how he handles being second to LH; if it worries him, he will be putting himself under pressure and as a result might fail woefully or collapse (he is not very good at performing well under pressure, he blames everything but himself) but if he mentally acknowledges that LH is better than him (if that were to be proven), accepts it while ignoring the british press and pundits, he will help the team win the WDC over many years.

Right now whether people like it or not, he is going in as de facto no 2. and I bet he knows it. No doubt he will get equal equipment and something close to equal treatment unless he can outperforms LH. If he can't he will be smart to accept the no 2 role - do a DC - frankly he no longer has a choice because I don't see him ever driving for a top team again if he fails at Mclaren. I just hope for his sake that he will whin less if things get rough.

Im pretty surprised about jense

I think Button is mad taking on Hamilton. That being said I was also one of those people, believing Raikkonen would take Massa to school. I was completely wrong on that assessment and have had to eat some humble pie. Can lighting strike twice? Can Button hold his own and actually beat Hamilton? I my life depended on it, I would have to go for Hamilton.

Pity . I was really looking at KImi coming back "home" .It would have been fantastic to see Hamilton and Kimi trade fastest laps and i think Hmai would have been on his toes thsi time. Also would have been nice for Kimi to show the finger to Ferrari for dumping him, assuming that Mclaren will be a better car next year .

Button will try - but keep in mind that even in his championship winning year , he got less points than Hami in the 2nd half.

I think the guys will be close to each other and deliver both titles. Who will have the WDC? I don't know if I expect a close fight, even mechanical failures and crashes can decide that.

I always respected Jenson, but from today I like him more, now he is a McLaren driver, and that is something!

I always wanted to see Button in McLaren but that wish was long gone since the arrival of Hamilton

I also would have preferred the Kimster, but anyway. Nice to have the reigning WC on board and the "sexy little number " (to quote Damon Hill) he brings along. But the number isn't worth a bit if it is not achieved in a McLaren.
I think Button has therefore more balls than I ever had imagined he had. To take Hamilton head to head in the same machine is quite a task and to decide to hgo for this challenge is the mark of a true champion in my eyes.
I just hope that he returns to his classic helmet design, as last years design was pretty much vomit worthy.

Oh - and is anyone else beside me thinking that this is just the first of many flips of the finger from Woking to Stuttgart?

I just thought I'd remind people I did suggest Jenson way back on 4 Aug 2009 23:00 on the mp4-24 thread, though I don't remember anyone being enthusiastic about it back then ... attitudes seem to change as fast as F1 cars go!

- see http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?show...rif&st=9560

Does anyone know what the launch date for the 2010 car is ?

I'm a bit surprined by Button's signing....Ok he is a good driver, but he has the complete opposite driving style from Lewis. If mclaren builds a car that suits Lewis, Button will be nowhere and if they build a Button car then most likely they would be wasting Lewis' talents. If they try to build a car that suits both it will probably turn into a dud like in 2006.... IDK guys

I hope Button will do well at McLaren. Raikkonen may have been better, but then again Massa vs Raikkonen was a surprise so we'll see. It may indeed be the case that Red Bull will be a better fit for Raikkonen though, what with them also sponsoring some rally cars - from 2011 in F1 and maybe earlier in WRC?

I don't think McLaren is "pulling one" on Mercedes here, Button's move would be a lot more easily understood if Mercedes was pushing to make Rosberg the de-facto #1 at Brawn. And McLaren still looks to remain more or less a semi-works team for Mercedes, with their branding and colours and all I presume, so no big deal for them even if they would have rather kept him. I suspect Mercedes would be more than happy with Rosberg and Heidfeld, anyway, and maybe push for Vettel after that.

I hope Kovalainen remains in F1 and finds a decent seat. The second seat at Renault seems a possibility, allthough Montagny is probably in pole position there and Sutil is another fairly established driver around, whom Renault could consider. Maybe Lotus could be an option for him as well.

Whitmarsh has said he's confident they can build a car that will suit both

We'll have to wait and see

Somehow I think Whitmarsh will be fighting very hard for a British Grandprix, that would be quite a bit mullah on merchandise that weekend.

No shit

Man I don't know how to feel about Jenson at Mclaren. I think he's a good driver, definitely better than Heikki, but he never fit the "Mclaren" mold in my eyes. Of course, now that he's offically our driver, I have a softer spot for him, but it's all alittle confusing. If he somehow manages to best Lewis I will be INCREDIBLY impressed, but I simply can't see it happening, especially when Barrichello showed him the way in the second half of last season. Kimi is the big loser in all this (if you can call someone who got $15+ million NOT to do their job a loser) in that he won't be fighting for the WDC next year. I fear he will go the way of Mika and simply not come back.

I really hope that Hamilton won't lose the 2010 championship to Button because I've had enough of the "Lewis pressing the wrong Button" joke

Button to McLaren to partner Hamilton makes me think of Nicky going to Ducatti to Partner Stoner for some reason.

Button is gonna be fine, he's been beaten before, he's never appeared to be unbeatable, he can handle it. he's got his WDC, he won't be as bitter as DC. Both Button and Hamilton should know the British press are fickle bastards, I think they can survive the civil war the British media would no doubt try to stir up.

Button was quite a golden boy at Honda/Brawn, he said he wanted Ross Brawn, they hired Brawn. He'd need to adjust to a team where he's not the focus.

Phew - happy we have Button, now I believe this thread would survive the end of the 2010 season. It was bound to be invaded by the Kimi fanatics. Button+Lewis = best combo.

If Raikkonen ends up in a Merc and we get stuck with Button I'm gonna be spittin chips!
Apart from Kimi over Monty in the first part of '06 (and not in '05), I've never cheered for one Mac driver over the other...

I feel dizzy, I need to lie down.

I think we are going to have to get used to the sights of KIMI driving a Mercedes next year.
Anyway, the press war between Button and Brawns continues:

here

Button to Mclaren - press analysis

Interesting read...

I Agree

x2

x3

I don't think the gap is going to be that dramatic - I am looking at something in the region of 0.2 - 0.3 per lap depending on the circuit. Roughly a 2 grid position difference in qualifying at most.

The Ducatti is a different beast to the Mclaren. No rider has mastered it like Stoner and as for Hayden? The drop from 990cc to 800cc, hurt him most.

So who is defecting to Mercedes? This considering they become even more dominant in 2010 . If I am being honest, I want to see them fail.

Ever since Mika nd Kimi drove for MacLaren, I have a soft spot for the team (I even have a Boss jacket with the teams logo and Mikas name on it).

I was looking forward to many GP s with the team and Kimi once moore, it didn´t happened.

I´m not so sure Kimi is the biggest loser here.

Jenson, well .............

My only fear now is that Merc could get hold of Raikkonen.

Dam it, there goes the No. 5 on Lewis's car.
I was looking forward to that.

Anyone ??

Which Kimi will they get though, the fast and ballsy racer or the coke sipping magnum munching Kimi ?

There was a talk of ONE launch date for all teams, sometime around 15 Jan? I thought Toyota was to go early January...

I´m quit sure you prefer the last one.

Contrary, i always wanted mika to beat david and he usually did. but on the odd occasion when mika couldnt challenege for victory and david was up there (al la france 2000, monaco 2000) it was david all the way.

If it means he won't be a threat then i certainly do

most new car launches take place around the 12th to the 25th of january. Mclaren traditionally launch on the 15th or one or two days earlier or later than that. So anything from the 13th to the 18th i think.

Cheers mate

Welcome GIBF1 (and Jenson) to McLaren (thread)

Wasn't there talk of the teams doing a combined launch next year?

Such a shame FIA ban pre-season testing in December. Oh well, it might just help McLaren in the future.