Moss advises McLaren to keep Button for 2015
Sir Stirling Moss believes that Jenson Button is the best available driver to support Fernando Alonso, still not officially confirmed, at McLaren in 2015. However, McLaren has still not made a decision, which is not unusual for Eric Boullier, but this delay has been criticized by Derek Warwick while Button is still waiting for his team's decision.
The McLaren team has still not announced its drivers for the next season, and while Fernando Alonso seems linked to the team with the return of engine supplier Honda alongside him, the name of his teammate is still unknown – although it seems to be between Button, Magnussen, and Vandoorne.
Sir Stirling Moss believes that Button is the best driver available to support the double world champion from Spain, as he told the Daily Mail: « I don’t see anyone better than him that they could honestly take. I am a big fan of his, he is a very good driver. I even called him to talk to him because it has been a difficult situation that shouldn’t have happened. He is one of the best drivers today, in every aspect, and I think it’s really a shame. »
The sporting director of the team, Eric Boullier, believes that the wait being exhibited by the Woking team is not a real problem for its two main drivers in 2014, as he told Sky Sports: « There is no problem, it simply takes time to consider what is best for McLaren. Unfortunately, I can’t give you any hints because I don’t know. No decision has been made at the moment. »
The Frenchman knows that the expectations are high from the fans, but the McLaren officials must carefully consider the future of the team with Honda’s return as engine supplier: « I know there are many fans [waiting]; fans of Jenson, of Kevin, of other drivers, and even McLaren fans, but it is about making the right decision for the future, not just next year but also the coming years. Our responsibility is to make McLaren win again, and I would be happy because our two drivers are excellent drivers. Jenson is obviously a world champion, and we would like to continue with both, but we must decide what is best for the team. »
Derek Warwick, former F1 driver and race steward for the FIA in recent years, does not share the same opinion as Eric Boullier and expressed his disgust to BBC Radio 5 Live regarding the attitude of the McLaren team: « Button deserves to stay. His treatment [by McLaren] has been appalling. They have invested heavily in Kevin Magnussen. He is someone for the future, of course, so I think it’s a difficult situation for them. We have our fingers crossed for Jenson because he brings a lot of people to the British Grand Prix. It’s important for us.
The main person involved also shared his thoughts on his situation and finds it strange, as cited by BBC Sport, the uncertainty hovering over his future and the time McLaren is taking to decide on its driver lineup for the 2015 Formula 1 season: “It’s a strange situation but sometimes in life, you find yourself in these situations. You just have to deal with them.”
Alonso seems to have signed with McLaren for a contract estimated at 32 million euros, and according to the British publication, Button would be willing to accept a salary reduction of nearly 15 million euros—compared to around 630,000 euros for Magnussen in 2014—to stay.
