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The fates of Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen would be decided tomorrow when a board meeting takes places at McLaren HQ. McLaren has to make an important decision in terms of the team’s future as it enters a new era with Honda by its side.
To choose between experience and youth is a very difficult question and more so in Formula One. From F1 pundits to current drivers, almost everyone is suggesting McLaren to retain the Brit but a very few came up on Magnussen's side.
It is predicted that Alonso will make a return to the McLaren team so far no light has been shed on his arrival or his potential partner for the new season.
The lack of activity from the Dane's side speaks of not his strength but of how weak Button's case is. So let us look as to why Alonso and Magnussen would the right pair at McLaren Honda in 2015.
A tale of age
Button and Magnussen represent the two extremes of the age line in F1. At 34, Jenson Button stands at the finish line of age in Formula One. On the other hand, at 22, Magnussen is at the cusp of a long viable career is the sport. If Button is indeed granted the seat he would be on borrowed time with a career that is predicted not to last more than 2 years at best. Magnussen has plenty of time left under his belt and if chosen can save the team the hassle of embarking on a mission once again for a new driver in a year or two.
The Dane is an investment
What most people forget is that Magnussen is the product of McLaren's young driver program. That means a lot of time, money and other resources have been spent to groom the boy for a future in F1 and to take that away would be move to squander all that hard work.
The Honda mystery
The biggest determinant factor in deciding between the two drivers rests on how the Japanese engine performs starting next year. Fernando Alonso, after frustrating 5 years with Ferrari decided that it is time to play a gamble and return to McLaren. If the Honda engine turns out to be equally competitive to Mercedes' one, things would be well and good.
However, if the engine doesn't perform over the course of next 2-3 years this could spell trouble for Alonso and may very well turn out to be his last stint in F1. And if that happens the Alonso-Button pairing would retire either at the same time or one after another meaning that the team would suddenly find itself in a scramble to find not one but two drivers to continue their venture into the sport. The presence of Magnussen on the other hand would provide the team a stability when Alonso retires.
Talent which is death to hide
Starting his career with a podium finish in Australia, Kevin Magnussen showed he is worthy of being in the ultimate motorsport. But as McLaren's form disappeared both the drivers were left to languish to finish outside the points.
Slowly as the Woking based team made a comeback, Jenson was on top of Kevin. But the Dane's position was always decided to be under the wings of Jenson. Paired with the most experienced driver on the grid, the rookie had the job cut out for him.
Over the course of the year Kevin showed he learned an important attribute from the best and his brilliant defending drives against Alonso on a numerous occasions gave a glimpse of what he can achieve. Magnussen can potentially absorb much more from Alonso. To let go of such talent would be an injustice not only with the Danish driver but also with the sport.
Who knows, over the course of the next few years, besides the Spaniard, Kevin Magnussen may turn into McLaren's rising star.
