Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Iran following deadly Bandar Abbas port explosion    Saudi Arabia welcomes Palestinian leadership reforms, appointment of Hussein Al-Sheikh    Ministry of Hajj issued over 150,000 Nusuk cards for the Hajj of 2025    Saudi Arabia deports 12,866 illegal residents in a week    Pope Francis laid to rest at historic funeral in Rome    Massive explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaee Port injures over 500 people    SFDA clears first 44-ton medical shipment for Hajj pilgrims    Over 13 million worshipers pray at Rawdah Sharif in a year    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Button leaves comfort for McLaren
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 03 - 2010

Formula One champion Jenson Button's move to McLaren is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing decisions of the season.
Button left constructors' champion Brawn GP in November after seven years with the former Honda group just before it was taken over by Mercedes, which is investing in an F1 team for the first time in 55 years.
The Briton traded in the comforts of a team he knew well for a chance to drive at McLaren, where teammate Lewis Hamilton has been racing since he was 13. Hamilton's influence inside the team led Fernando Alonso, who joined immediately after winning a second straight championship in 2006, to leave after just one season due to supposed favoritism.
“Jenson knew exactly what he was letting himself in for,” McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said of his all-British lineup. “So far he hasn't regretted it. We will see as the season unfolds which of our drivers feels most uncomfortable – inevitably they will. One of them has to feel uncomfortable if he's being beaten by the other.”
Last season, Button won six of the first seven races and then hung on to win the championship over Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton was fifth after a mixed season with McLaren, but preseason testing has shown that the British team is one of the favorites going into a field where Alonso has been reinvigorated by a move to Ferrari and seven-time champion Michael Schumacher returns to take Button's place.
Despite all of the competition on the grid, it's the in-house threat that seems most dangerous.
“Our chances are good. I have a confidence in my ability and my confidence in building a good team around me,” Button said. “But you never know until you're racing someone in the team. It's very difficult to know where you stand.
“There will be rivalry, there always has to be between teammates. (And) one of us is always going to be on top.”
Whitmarsh, who regrets how the team treated Alonso, said the rivalry will help the team's drive for the title.
Hamilton said his working relationship with Button was good, but the 2008 champion did not mince words when it came to getting back into the title fight.
“I'm happy to put my hands up and say when I've been beaten, and I have lost a race to a teammate, but not a championship,” said Hamilton, who also admitted to errors in handling Alonso's stay at the team.
Button said his driving style will also suit new regulations, which have banned refueling.


Clic here to read the story from its source.