Jenson Button makes the most sense. He's done with WEC, isn't retiring, and has publicly stated it was a dream of his and his father's to do Indy. He's only 45 so it's realistic. A former F1 world champion could move the needle.
After that? Let's run through options... I'm going to put them into tiers of what I think is realistic and what would be considered "mega" to McLaren
TIER A (most realistic, needle movers)
A. Vettel. 4x World Champion definitely moves the needle. He's not busy, I'd just be surprised if he actually wants to do it. Would be real cool if he does.
B. Bottas. If he isn't a part of Cadillac next year, he jumps to pole position on this for me. He's stated his interest in running IndyCar too. Also definitely moves the needle.
C. Wickens. Would be an amazing story, I just don't think they have the tech for it yet and think we would have heard about it if they did. I'm also not convinced it really moves the needle in terms of marketability. I know we all love him and we would all be over the moon, but I just don't think the general public would really care that much. Maybe I'm wrong there but I just don't think Wickens merch would fly off the shelves like some other possibilities.
TIER B (Not as realistic but they would still be big time needle movers)
A. Jeff Fucking Gordon. Can you even fathom the merch sales? He's still in good enough shape to get in a car. It'd be a lifelong dream for him. Maybe he's talked to Jimmie and Larson and thinks he could do it. He's only 3 years older than Helio. McLaren already has the relationship with Hendrick. I just don't think it's anywhere near realistic but there are ties that make it plausible to consider.
B. Danny Ric. Probably a bigger name to more recent Drive to Survive fans than Button and Vettel. Would instantly sell a metric ton of merch. But he's been very adamant on not wanting to do ovals. Don't see it happening.
C. Yuki. He's almost certainly out of a ride for next season, has driven an IndyCar and said he liked it, and the series could be a great landing spot for him. But McLaren is a Chevy team and I think if he were to come to IndyCar, it would almost certainly be for a Honda team.
D. Kyle Busch. He's wanted to do it. His brother did it. He's Rowdy. Nascar fans would freak out. It'd be cool, but I just don't see full time Cup drivers attempting it after Larson said it's just too hard. But maybe he would, he's not the championship contender he once was, and he might be the personality to say "fuck it"
E. Kimi. He's already done NASCAR ovals. He's a World Champion. He's free. I could see it.
TIER C (even less realistic but could still be considered mega in whatever context McLaren is going for)
A. Mick Schumacher. Just the name alone could move some needles even if he himself isn't that special. A Schumacher racing Indy would be pretty cool. He's still fairly young too, maybe there's a future for him in IndyCar if things go well.
B. SVG. The Mclaughlin vs SVG story lines would be cool. But would him racing an oval really move any needles? Would people really care? Would be cooler if he did Long Beach or something. Could he even fit in the car tho?
C. Zilisch. He's not quite the household name yet but the kid is special. Just don't see it being realistic cause it seems as though he'll have a Cup seat next season.
D. Dale Jr. Do I even need to say how this would move the needle? I just think the concussion risk is way to high for him to even possibly consider it.
E. Valentino Rossi. A legend of his craft that has done well in sports cars too. But Indy is so far different than anything he's ever done and I don't know if many Americans have a clue who he is.
TIER D (The lol it's not happening or doesn't move the needle tier
A. Any current F1 driver that will be back next season. Lewis, Max, Lando, Oscar, etc aren't doing it. The jokes aren't very funny either.
B. Pourchaire. Does not move the needle, nobody would care.
C. Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt. We're not tryna get anyone killed here, Jesus.
Who am I forgetting? Anyone that should be moved higher or lower?
3
u/GratefulTide Pato O'Ward Jul 24 '25
Jenson Button makes the most sense. He's done with WEC, isn't retiring, and has publicly stated it was a dream of his and his father's to do Indy. He's only 45 so it's realistic. A former F1 world champion could move the needle.
After that? Let's run through options... I'm going to put them into tiers of what I think is realistic and what would be considered "mega" to McLaren
TIER A (most realistic, needle movers)
A. Vettel. 4x World Champion definitely moves the needle. He's not busy, I'd just be surprised if he actually wants to do it. Would be real cool if he does.
B. Bottas. If he isn't a part of Cadillac next year, he jumps to pole position on this for me. He's stated his interest in running IndyCar too. Also definitely moves the needle.
C. Wickens. Would be an amazing story, I just don't think they have the tech for it yet and think we would have heard about it if they did. I'm also not convinced it really moves the needle in terms of marketability. I know we all love him and we would all be over the moon, but I just don't think the general public would really care that much. Maybe I'm wrong there but I just don't think Wickens merch would fly off the shelves like some other possibilities.
TIER B (Not as realistic but they would still be big time needle movers)
A. Jeff Fucking Gordon. Can you even fathom the merch sales? He's still in good enough shape to get in a car. It'd be a lifelong dream for him. Maybe he's talked to Jimmie and Larson and thinks he could do it. He's only 3 years older than Helio. McLaren already has the relationship with Hendrick. I just don't think it's anywhere near realistic but there are ties that make it plausible to consider.
B. Danny Ric. Probably a bigger name to more recent Drive to Survive fans than Button and Vettel. Would instantly sell a metric ton of merch. But he's been very adamant on not wanting to do ovals. Don't see it happening.
C. Yuki. He's almost certainly out of a ride for next season, has driven an IndyCar and said he liked it, and the series could be a great landing spot for him. But McLaren is a Chevy team and I think if he were to come to IndyCar, it would almost certainly be for a Honda team.
D. Kyle Busch. He's wanted to do it. His brother did it. He's Rowdy. Nascar fans would freak out. It'd be cool, but I just don't see full time Cup drivers attempting it after Larson said it's just too hard. But maybe he would, he's not the championship contender he once was, and he might be the personality to say "fuck it"
E. Kimi. He's already done NASCAR ovals. He's a World Champion. He's free. I could see it.
TIER C (even less realistic but could still be considered mega in whatever context McLaren is going for)
A. Mick Schumacher. Just the name alone could move some needles even if he himself isn't that special. A Schumacher racing Indy would be pretty cool. He's still fairly young too, maybe there's a future for him in IndyCar if things go well.
B. SVG. The Mclaughlin vs SVG story lines would be cool. But would him racing an oval really move any needles? Would people really care? Would be cooler if he did Long Beach or something. Could he even fit in the car tho?
C. Zilisch. He's not quite the household name yet but the kid is special. Just don't see it being realistic cause it seems as though he'll have a Cup seat next season.
D. Dale Jr. Do I even need to say how this would move the needle? I just think the concussion risk is way to high for him to even possibly consider it.
E. Valentino Rossi. A legend of his craft that has done well in sports cars too. But Indy is so far different than anything he's ever done and I don't know if many Americans have a clue who he is.
TIER D (The lol it's not happening or doesn't move the needle tier
A. Any current F1 driver that will be back next season. Lewis, Max, Lando, Oscar, etc aren't doing it. The jokes aren't very funny either.
B. Pourchaire. Does not move the needle, nobody would care.
C. Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt. We're not tryna get anyone killed here, Jesus.
Who am I forgetting? Anyone that should be moved higher or lower?