F1 - Hamilton has joined Mercedes

[SimonMac]

How much of this is marketing the Hamilton brand?

McLaren are very restrictive in what their contracts allow in respect to outside sponsorship so I would imagine we will see a lot more of the brand after the move

[Old Hack]

McLaren are very restrictive in what their contracts allow in respect to outside sponsorship so I would imagine we will see a lot more of the brand after the move

Absolutely. I think they are allowed one sponsor at Mclaren, but whatever they want at Merc, to a degree.

[cojak]

Be aware also, that Mclaren have to pay for their engines soon, which is shown in taking on the pay driver (Perez) instead of someone who is quick, but doesn't bring money.

I think that's an unfair description of Perez these days. Yes he's a pay driver, but he's bloody quick too and a rising star of the circuit as he can do it without crashing into others at the same time.

[Old Hack]

I think that's an unfair description of Perez these days. Yes he's a pay driver, but he's bloody quick too and a rising star of the circuit as he can do it without crashing into others at the same time.

Yes, I know that, he and Maldonado are very quick, but are still pay drivers, and I was wondering, aloud, if that's the reason Perez got the gig and not someone else. Perez is bankrolled by TelMex, the largest Telco in South America and, for me, it's fairly obvious why they have gone for Perez, for their sponsorship with Vodafone expires at the end of the year.

A little part of me thinks this has been planned all along, as Vodafone were title sponsors, and it's well known they were leaving...

It's actually interesting, for Button has been absolutely dominated this year by Hamilton, and I rate Perez, so it could be Perez unsettling Button next year, as such.

[d000hg]

Teams like McLaren don't need pay drivers. He's shown a lot of talent.

Oh well, looks like next season will be interesting although is this when we get the stupid engines that don't make any noise?

[Old Hack]

Teams like McLaren don't need pay drivers. He's shown a lot of talent.

Oh well, looks like next season will be interesting although is this when we get the stupid engines that don't make any noise?

V6 Turbos revving to 15,000rpm being stupid engines that don't make any noise? You've not been an F1 fan for long have you? Prost and Senna won 3 championships in them, Piquet 3 and Mansell nearly won 2. Watch Gerhard Berger on youtu.be in a turbo'd BMW to see what a handful they used to be.

As for not needing pay drivers, I refer to the above about Vodafone and Telmex, paying for their own engines, and, what I forgot, is the road car division being 75% down on sales. This does smell a little of being mainly a commercial affair to me. I've not said he lacks talent, but what got him here, is money, and what I believe the Mclaren deal about, is also partially money. But yes, he has been fairly quick on occasion.

[VectraMan]

Yes, I know that, he and Maldonado are very quick, but are still pay drivers, and I was wondering, aloud, if that's the reason Perez got the gig and not someone else. Perez is bankrolled by TelMex, the largest Telco in South America and, for me, it's fairly obvious why they have gone for Perez, for their sponsorship with Vodafone expires at the end of the year.

That's a good point, I hadn't thought of that. I've always thought having two British drivers (or in fact two drivers of the same nationality whatever it is) must have been a problem, sponsorship wise.

There's no question Perez deserves a drive with a top team though.

[cojak]

Yes, I know that, he and Maldonado are very quick, but are still pay drivers, and I was wondering, aloud, if that's the reason Perez got the gig and not someone else. Perez is bankrolled by TelMex, the largest Telco in South America and, for me, it's fairly obvious why they have gone for Perez, for their sponsorship with Vodafone expires at the end of the year.

A little part of me thinks this has been planned all along, as Vodafone were title sponsors, and it's well known they were leaving...

It's actually interesting, for Button has been absolutely dominated this year by Hamilton, and I rate Perez, so it could be Perez unsettling Button next year, as such.

Fair enough, your reasoning is sound. And I would imagine that Button was privately irritated by the recruitment of Perez who might well be able to match him in the same car.

[Old Hack]

Fair enough, your reasoning is sound. And I would imagine that Button was privately irritated by the recruitment of Perez who might well be able to match him in the same car.

I can see that too. I think he'll have his handsfull with a very, very motivated Perez.

[d000hg]

That's a good point, I hadn't thought of that. I've always thought having two British drivers (or in fact two drivers of the same nationality whatever it is) must have been a problem, sponsorship wise.

It's a shame for the UK audience though, two English world champions in a top team which is also British or very British-biased is pretty much a dream come true.