user icon
user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
McLaren driver decision 'next week at the earliest'

McLaren driver decision 'next week at the earliest'

  • Published on 05 Dec 2014 16:07
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Yet another week will draw to a close with no news forthcoming about McLaren's 2015 driver lineup. After Thursday's board meeting at Woking, expectations had risen again on Friday that McLaren would finally confirm Fernando Alonso and name his Honda-powered teammate. Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen, however, remain in the dark.

A team spokesman said McLaren is planning "no driver selection announcements until next week at the earliest". That indicates the wait could in fact take longer than another whole week. Asked when he is expecting news, 22-year-old Danish rookie Magnussen told local newspaper Ekstra Bladet: "I have no idea. Hopefully before Christmas!"

He attended what will surely be either his or Button's last McLaren sponsor engagement on Thursday, and said on Twitter afterwards: "Really good to spend some time with JB. He is an awesome guy and no matter what happens next year, I'm cheering for him."

It is believed a behind-the-scenes shareholder, sponsorship and management wrangling involving Ron Dennis, Mansour Ojjeh and the Bahrainis is tied up with the driver news delay. McLaren, however, said: "The team declines to add further details."

Publicly, McLaren is taking a lot of flak not only for leaving world champion Button hanging, but also endangering Magnussen's fledgling career. Derek Warwick, chairman of the British Racing Drivers' Club, told BBC radio on Friday the treatment of veteran Button in particular has been "disgusting".

And the Telegraph correspondent Daniel Johnson added: "Putting a world champion through the mill, one who has been such a team player at McLaren and who commands huge respect, is bordering on a disgrace. It is no surprise that Ron Dennis and Button's management have not spoken since the last race in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago. One can only wonder what Honda, their new engine suppliers who have invested heavily in their return to formula one, are making of all this." (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Jenson Button Kevin Magnussen McLaren Honda
<< Previous article Next article >>

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

Related news

World Championship standings 2021

Pos
Team
Points
1
Mercedes
141
2
Red Bull Racing
112
3
McLaren
65
4
Ferrari
60
5
Alpine F1
15
6
Alpha Tauri
10
7
Aston Martin
5
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
Fernando Alonso
  • Team Alpine F1
  • Points 137
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 82
  • Country Spain
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (39)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, Spain
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

McLaren
McLaren
Show full profile

Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
21 - May 23
Monaco
Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
18 - Jun 20
France
Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27
Austria
Red Bull Ring
2 - Jul 4
Austria
Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom
Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary
Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy
Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil
Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia
Albert Park
3 - Dec 5
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
21 - May 23
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
18 - Jun 20
France Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27
Austria Red Bull Ring
2 - Jul 4
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia Albert Park
3 - Dec 5
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar