for the life of me, I cannot understand why Alonso is paid so much more than him
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Why would that be?

Beats me, Button is a more recent world champion as well

There is no way VW are joining F1 in any capacity given the turmoil of the parent company.

Rumour going round is that they are pulling out of other series, will buy a stake in RedBull with a view to joining the championship in 2018 after the radical rule changes in 2017

comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 35 minutes ago
Beats me, Button is a more recent world champion as well
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Nah, I mean why do you find it so hard to put personal antipathy aside?

Alonso might be a twunt and a sourpuss, but that and the fact he's made some unfortunate career choices don't diminish his driving ability.

He's repeatedly been named by peers as being the best driver on the grid and even Hamilton very recently referred to him as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.

All that aside, I'd speculate that Alonso is also a much bigger name in terms of drawing sponsors and interest, so all round there are plenty of reasons for him to earn a lot more than JB.

He is a talented driver but a troubled individual. Look at every team he has gone to for instance.

McLaren, caused problems, left. Renault, team mate made to crash for him, Ferrari were ecstatic he left as well.

I appreciate he is frustrated at the lack of pace in his car but the comments about GP2 engine were pathetic especially considering he was passed in the DRS zone

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2989546/Fernando-Alonso-Formula-One-s-marketable-driver-world-champion-Lewis-Hamilton-fourth-list.html

As for the controversies, I think Dennis himself is on record as saying it was Hamilton who started the trouble at McLaren, and it has also since emerged that the team itself tried to ensure LH finished ahead of FA.

As for your comments re Ferrari, I don't really follow closely enough to know whether or not that's true. but it's obvious even to me that he largely wasted his prime driving years there, trying to and often succeeding to (and I quote other more knowledgeable sources) turn a dog into a racehorse. How much did he outscore Massa by in their years together there? I think it was over 500 points...

As I said, while I don't think many would consider him a likeable guy, there are plenty of reasons to explain why McLaren pay him bucketloads compared to JB.

Interesting rumour going around that Button is gonna move to Renault (currently Lotus) in 2016 due to reports that Grosjean is moving to Haas.

I'd love to see Button alongside Maldonado. Maybe then Bernie can finally see the enormous gulf in class between a driver that earned his F1 seat and a driver that bought his way into the sport.

Nope, the story you heard about McLaren is false. Alonso demanded number 1 status at McLaren and even when Hamilton was faster like in Monaco, he had to tow the line.

Eventually the team realised that Hamilton was more than capable of matching Alonso, they let them race. Hungary is when the trouble started in earnest and who was behind it, Alonso. He was the one in possession of Ferrari docs as well and wanted to use them to force Ron to give him preferential status and Ron reported to the FIA about the docs in their possession.

Everywhere he goes, controversy follows, he even had the team break Massa's gear box to give him an advantage in Austin.

He is a poor excuse for a sports man

:...due to reports that Grosjean is moving to Haas."
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Now a done deal – watching for JB's next move with interest...

"Maybe then Bernie can finally see the enormous gulf in class between a driver that earned his F1 seat and a driver that bought his way into the sport."
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Not a chance, Bernie can't see much with all those dollar signs imprinted on his retina.

Love to be a fly on the wall when Lauda gets to talk to Bernie about TVgate.

""How much did he outscore Massa by in their years together there? I think it was over 500 points...""

But that is not representative of the drivers abilities, that is representative of their contracts.

Or probably both.

Massa beat Kimi with ease and is beating the highly rated Bottas

It is quite clear it was a contract thing.

Felipe, Fernando is "faster" than you

Look at their qualifying record then.

Massa was not allowed to compete with Fernando

Ok Mudd, pointless debate because either your judgement is clouded or mine is.

Thunk you give Alonso too much credit