2015 is a big year for McLaren, as they are parting ways with their long term engine suppliers Mercedes and returning to Honda, who are making a comeback to Formula One after an eight year absence.
With this in mind the Woking based team will want the best drivers available to them. Also, McLaren CEO Ron Dennis is keeping his cards close to his chest, not giving anything away about his driver lineup for 2015.
This could spell trouble for current drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen, who aren't exactly being shown a vote of confidence by their team boss. Dennis was quoted in an interview as saying "As I say, we’ll always look to employ the best drivers available". But his plans all hinge on the availability of the star drivers.
McLaren have been linked with all the big drivers for next season. With Fernando Alonso and even Lewis Hamilton being linked with returns to the team, and Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean being distant rumoured replacements.
It's unlikely any of these drivers will join, seeing as they have contracts with their current teams. Also with Honda not having a proven setup, there's bound to be teething problems with their new engine. So it seems like a huge risk to move to a team with an unproven car.
The other issue to come out of this is could this be Jenson Button's final year in Formula One? The 34 year old hasn't been confirmed for 2015 and should McLaren attract a big driver, it's highly likely Button will make way and not his younger team mate.
Magnussen has had a relatively impressive season so far, with him being able to rival 2009 Champion Button consistently. If McLaren can't attract a top driver and decide to dispense with Button, young academy driver Stoffel Vandoorne is making waves in GP2.
It appears McLaren will have to wait a few years before they can return to the heights of the Championship glory of yesteryear, with perhaps yet another troublesome car being likely.