PlatinumZealot wrote:ME4ME wrote:
Also there is Mclaren. If they take up Botton on his option for next year, they would desperately want to place Magnussen and/or Vandoorne somewhere so they could race.
Hmm.. If Button gets that Willy seat he is taking it. He is smart enough to know by now that even though Macca driver's are allowed to race, Alonso WILL be de-facto number 1 next year. Button will never win a title with Mclaren. He will be lucky if he is allowed to win a race even. Remember Button is the old geezer they wanted to drop but decided against it because he has his use developing the grey donkey this year.
But then @ Williams, Jenson is going to race in a car that has a Mercedes powerplant in the back and under NO circumstance AMG Mercedes is going to allow Williams to beat the Works Team in the WCC and WDC.
So Button is going to be able to race a Williams for pos 3 or 4 if he's lucky and they're able to beat Ferrari.
Or he can stay with Mclaren and hope that they improve enough with Honda to see him battle for 1st or 2nd, depending on how Alonso's races pan out.
He could, perhaps, but highly unlikely, end up at Ferrari, where i'd expect his chances to race for 1st or 2nd are bigger then with Mclaren - reminding that Mclaren has a bigger hill to climb than Maranello. AND, I wouldn't be surprised if Button would enjoy being a Ferrari driver.
Last but not least; how about RedBull Aston Martin Mercedes in the future? If Ricciardo smells a spot at Williams or Ferrari, or perhaps even Merc, and Kvyat doesn't up his game, I could see RedBull going for a Button-Verstappen combo.
RedBull had most success with a young gun + fast and stable experienced driver. Aero is going to play into their hands again in a forthyear and engine development will more or less halt.
I think opting for RedBull would hold a positive change for Button as i think it's fairly clear his enjoyment with Mclaren is wearing down and the grey-corporate environment @ Macca isn't really looking like a 'happy family' place.
The Button-Hamilton combo imho was a great time at Mclaren and worked perfectly. Since Hamilton's replacement it's been downhilling ever since.
I'm not sure of Button going to williams. He could, but then again, 2 old drivers @ Williams is something i dont see happening that fast.
@ RedBull button also would be more or less guaranteed to have a better time simply because of fellow activities within the RedBull family. I don't know Marko's stance against Button though, that could play a huge role. And i could see button doing some LM whilst @ RedBull.
Ferrari would be a good possibility too, again, young gun with experience. Button has great quality but then again would he be an improvement over Kimi? And would Ferrari go with Bottas over Button or vise versa?
I do think Ferrari would boost JB's morale by a huge amount. RedBull would, though a bit less id' say, but boost aswell.
Williams perhaps a bit, but would provide in any case a happier environment.
I dont believe in the Button @ Top Gear career switch. I think it's more of a PR stunt.
It would also drastically end button's racing career. I don't think he would have time doing WEC + Top Gear or LM + TG.
So he'd go from dwindled F1 career to a scandal-plagued and unfavoured new Top Gear set-up where he could be ditched after just a year when BBC calls it quits and end up with virtually nothing.
If Button would go presenting i would rather see him fortify the Sky team. I could even see him become Team owner or something like that. I could see him @ RedBull alongside Horner running RedBull Aston Martin F1 Team - Powered by AMG.
Developing Aston Martin sportscars, the Newey sportscar and promoting all at the same time as being a crucial part of the RedBull team.
Don't forget Jenson has a wealth of experience and knowledge in F1 to benefit from.
And at the meantime, he can do some WEC/LM races and his triathlons.
So conclusion?
Button TV host? no.
Button driving in 2016-2017 in F1? Yes.
Button F1 Team leader @ RedBull in 2017-2018? Yes.
either way i think we could expect a good amount of F1 drivers to 'retire' from F1 the coming 2-3 years.
Raikkonen, Massa, Button, Alonso.
Alonso > WEC + LM
Raikkonen > Same/total retirement
Massa > Indy/Nascar
Button > WEC + LM / Team Leader.
), they should get Hulkenberg or even Ricciardo, they may even keep Raikkonen, I don't care. It would be a fitting end for the current weird state of F1 driver circus.
, maybe Williams for Bottas? If true Mercedes is turning into Red Bull pushing unprepared and not that good own drivers into F1. What did Vehrlein achieve to be even considered apart from being German and associated with Merc? As if three Red Bull drivers that are learning and not performing wasn't enough.