Formula 1

[jplpool]

Button joins Hamilton at McLaren

Jenson Button has signed to drive alongside Lewis Hamilton in an all-English line-up at McLaren next season, BBC Sport has learned.

The world champion's move will be announced later on Wednesday.

The confirmation follows news that former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will not race in F1 next year.

The move leaves McLaren with one of the most exciting driver line-ups in F1 and Button facing arguably the toughest challenge of his career.

Button's former team Brawn, who have been taken over by Mercedes, made Button an offer, but the 29-year-old did not consider it acceptable.

Jenson Button's career in F1

His switch means McLaren will be fielding the last two world champions in the same team, Hamilton having won the drivers' title in 2008.

Button's preference for McLaren is not solely to do with money, according to sources. He also believes it is the best option for his career.

After a poor start to the 2009 season, McLaren came back strongly in the second half of the year, while Brawn, after dominating the first third of the season, slipped back in competitiveness as the year went on.

Button's manager Richard Goddard was unavailable for comment.

Brawn emerged from the ashes of the former Honda team, after the Japanese company pulled out of F1 last winter.

Button took a pay cut last winter to help secure the team's future and they went on to win the world championship together in Brawn's debut season.

Now renamed Mercedes Grand Prix, the team have already signed the German Nico Rosberg as one of their drivers.

His fellow German Nick Heidfeld is the favourite for the second seat.

[rds.06]

Strange move imo. Hamilton is very clearly nr 1 at Mclaren. Also Hamiltons & Buttons driving styles are totally different. I read an intersting article that I cant find on the BBC website now, where it talked about the design of next years Mclaren. Basically it said that due to Hamitons & Buttons driving styles being so different with would not be possible for Mclaren to set the car up to suit both drivers so they would have to develop the car onr way or the other and i can only see them going with Hamilton on that.

Mercedes have also said there might be a surprise when the driver line up is confirm, maybe Heidfeld is that surprise but Schumi is another rumour but I really dont think it is true. The long term goal for the "all German" team will be Vettel but they migt have to wait a season of two for him. 

[Johan!]

Raikkonen's manager Robertson said that Kimi might end up at Mercedes after all if they can provide him with a winning car.

I think Hamilton will beat Button. He's their favourite anyway and like Rds says with their different driving styles McLaren will rather go for a car which fits Hamilton.

[Peaches]

This shits so boring  so is nascar.
 Are you fucking kidding me?

[rds.06]

Ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen will compete for Citroen's junior team in next year's World Rally Championship.

The manufacturer said the 30-year-old Finn would compete in 12 of the 13 events in 2010 for the Red Bull-backed team.

Raikkonen, who won the Drivers' Championship with Ferrari in 2007, was bought out of his contract with the team a year early to allow for the arrival of Fernando Alonso next year.

"I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career," said Raikkonen.

"This is a new but very exciting challenge. For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future.

"I am really looking forward to testing and taking the start of the first rally."

Raikkonen has previous World Rally Championship experience, having competed in this year's Finnish round in a Fiat after also entering three non-championship events, but his new challenge is a big step up.

Citroen's French driver Sebastien Loeb has won the last six world rally titles and Raikkonen will have one of the most competitive cars in the C4.

The team said Raikkonen's co-driver will be compatriot Kaj Lindstrom, who partnered now-retired Tommi Makinen to four successive world titles in the 1990s.

France's rising hope Sebastien Ogier will drive the junior team's other car, while Dani Sordo will continue to partner Loeb.

Delighted team boss Olivier Quesnel remarked: "We will continue to count on Sebastien and Dani to defend our world titles in 2010.

"We will also be prolonging our association with Sebastien Ogier who showed outstanding potential this year.

"Last but not least, it is with immense joy that we welcome Kimi Raikkonen to our ranks. We are very proud he has chosen Citroen."

[rds.06]

Hopefully Kimi will come back to F1 after he's year rallying. 

[Johan!]

Indeed. Now it's official that my favourite driver is not in F1 next year. 

[rds.06]

Who will you be supporting next season Mr Mod  ?

[jamiewarnock]

Indeed. Now it's official that my favourite driver is not in F1 next year. 

Sameeee

i reckon ill support Jensen - he seems a good guy

[Johan!]

You could start with writing his name correctly!

Who will you be supporting next season Mr Mod  ?

I'm not sure actually. Maybe Hamilton or Button. Ferrari can fuck off for all I care with Massa and Alonso. I hope they get into a lot of fights together. While I think Alonso is one of the fastest of the pack, I don't like his attitude. Massa will always be a lesser driver than Raikkonen, but he's Ferrari little favourite so Alonso will have a hard job next year.

[rds.06]

You could start with writing his name correctly!


I'm not sure actually. Maybe Hamilton or Button. Ferrari can fuck off for all I care with Massa and Alonso. I hope they get into a lot of fights together. While I think Alonso is one of the fastest of the pack, I don't like his attitude. Massa will always be a lesser driver than Raikkonen, but he's Ferrari little favourite so Alonso will have a hard job next year.

I dislike both Hamilton & Button because I feel Button to be vastly overrated & both of them too be 2 spoilt party boys. I'll be supporting Ferrai as always, as i truely believe Alonso to be the best driver on the grid (closely followed by Hamilton) and he is a true leader, like Schumi, well not really a leader, wrong word, but he has something about him if you know what I mean.

I would like to see Massa come back from injury and win a race or two, not easy with Alonso in the same machine. 

On a side note, what is going to happen to Heiki Kov? I havent even heard of him being linked with any drive next year, what is he going to do?

[Johan!]

I guess Heikki can be glad if he can drive for Virgin GP, USF1, Lotus or Campos. Or Renault might want him back as a second driver, since they're well known for having a number 1 and a number 2 driver.

I agree with you about the party boys and that Button probably isn't that good. On the other hand he's also really underrated. If he keeps up with Hamilton's pace he will prove us wrong.

I more a guy who supports drivers than teams. If Ferrari has no driver who I like than I don't support them that season. It still remains a beautiful team.

[Johan!]

Hey Rds.06. Start reacting. It gets fucking boring in this thread!

[rds.06]

Ok 

So what you make of the Schumi comeback rumours?

I would kill to see him in Australia because I didnt get to see him drive before he retired. I dont think he would beat the likes of Hamilton or Alonso, so everybody may be disappointed if he does return. It would probably be more of a PR stunt as Mercedes wait to try and sign Vettel next year. At the same time, I dont think he would come back just for the sake of coming back, he must feel that he can still challenge, and if Ross Brawn can give him a decent car then who knows.

Petronas as also title sponsors for Mercedes now which will be a huge blow to Sauber, who they used to sponsor & to Lotus. The owner of Lotus, runs AirAsia and uses a lot of Petronas fuel so he thought they would sign up but it didnt happen.

[Johan!]

When Schumi's neck will hold during his upcoming GP2 test he will return. He's just bored as fuck with doing nothing or just sitting on Ferrari's pitwall, bringing bad luck with his new nickname the Owl. 

I hope he returns. It's always good for the sport, especially after the departure of Kimi. If the Mercedes is gonna be close to this year's Brawn speed than Schumi might win races again after a couple GPs of adjusting to the new cars and getting back on pace.

Sauber has Ferrari's support back. So it's not far-fetched to see Fisichella joining Kobayashi at Sauber next year. I'm really glad this team just returns to its former owner and not another vague new team which leaves again within a couple of months/years. I'd be surprised of all of the 4 new teams (Virgin, USF1, Lotus and Campos) will still exist in 2011.