Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has urged McLaren to consider keeping Jenson Button to be Fernando Alonso’s Honda-powered teammate.<\/p>\n
With Alonso’s 2015 deal now reportedly signed and sealed, it is believed the ongoing delay in the announcement is due to deliberations about the identity of his teammate.<\/p>\n
Speed Week’s Mathias Brunner reports that the team’s new works partner Honda would like to pair Alonso with Button, who has an established relationship with the Japanese marque.<\/p>\n
But McLaren reportedly prefers its in-house youngster Kevin Magnussen, who comes with a much smaller price-tag.<\/p>\n
The uncertainty means Button is heading into the 2014 finale not knowing if Abu Dhabi is bringing the curtain down on his long and successful F1 career.<\/p>\n
Herbert – British like Button and now a pundit for Sky television – said he thinks McLaren-Honda needs the 34-year-old.<\/p>\n
“Alonso is a disruptive force,” he told Express newspaper.\u00a0 “The team will need a calming presence in the garage and Jenson will bring that with his experience and maturity.<\/p>\n
“For me, it’s a no-brainer that McLaren should keep Jenson ahead of Magnussen,” Herbert insisted.<\/p>\n
“Magnussen had a decent start,” he added, “but has made a few mistakes this season.\u00a0 You would expect that in a rookie, but with some of them they leave question marks whether he is the right standard.”<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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