It’s hardly a surprise to learn that Fernando Alonso is getting closer to signing a deal with McLaren for the 2015 Formula 1 season. However, it’s now looking likely that it will be the 266-race veteran Jenson Button who will make way for Alonso.
The expectation is that 22-year-old Kevin Magnussen has done enough in his rookie year to keep his seat next season and will drive alongside the 33-year-old Spaniard. That will give McLaren another good blend of youth and experience as it reunites with Honda in 2015.
It’s understood Alonso had initially wanted to sign a single year deal with McLaren, in case a seat opened up at Mercedes in 2016. It’s now being reported that Alonso will sign a two-plus-one deal with McLaren which could secure him with the Woking-based team until the end of the 2017 season.
On pure performance, Button may seem miffed at being pushed out in favour of Magnussen. The young Dane leads Button nine–eight in qualifying, but the 2009 world champion has performed much better on race day, with 94 championship points compared with Magnussen’s 53 points.
If Button is pushed out then a switch to endurance racing is expected, with a high profile move to join Mark Webber at Porsche his most likely option.
[Source: BBC]
2 replies on “Alonso set to push Button out of McLaren”
There is of course the possibility of Button getting the third seat at McLaren or somewhere else.
I’d rate a WEC LMP1 drive with Toyota or Nissan as a higher possibility for Button than Porsche, given Button’s excellent marketing appeal in Japan. Even SuperGT wouldn’t be out of the question.
From a marketing viewpoint it would be better for the WEC if Button did race for Toyota or Nissan, assuming that’s where he’s heading.