Button visits McLaren factory

[digital_F1]

uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSP21390320091114

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Jenson Button visited McLaren on Friday, fuelling speculation he could be lining up a switch from Brawn to become Lewis Hamilton's team mate next season.

"Having just landed at Heathrow (airport), Jenson made a small detour to Woking to say a quick hello," a McLaren spokesman said.

He confirmed the 29-year-old Briton, who was given a guided tour of the factory, met McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

Button is out of contract with Mercedes-powered champions Brawn, who are keen to retain him but not at any price.

Team boss Ross Brawn said earlier this week the chances of a deal being done were 99 percent, hinting also the team might give the driver more scope to benefit from personal sponsorship.

"We can offer a higher proportion of driver freedom and that will probably be the route we will go," he said.

Button took a significant pay cut, around 5 million pounds ($8.37 million) according to some media reports, to stay with Brawn this year after their predecessors Honda pulled out last December.

Although driver salaries are coming down as teams cut costs, Button wants his pay restored to something more appropriate to a world champion -- likely to be in the region of 8 million pounds.

What do you all think?

[blacktulip]

At 8 million Jenson would still not be in the top flight of paid drivers, after his showing this season he is worth that amount

It would be a vast amount cheaper for the Mac team to get him than pay Kimmi what he wants

[blacktulip]

From ITV F1

The saga over Jenson Button's future plans has taken a new twist after the world champion reportedly paid a visit to McLaren's headquarters yesterday.


A McLaren spokesperson confirmed to the British media that Button had made a trip to Woking, saying: "Having just arrived at Heathrow, Jenson made a small detour to Woking to say hello."


With Button yet to re-sign with the Brawn team that took him to the title, McLaren could go into 2010 with an all-British line-up and the last two world champions in its cars if it snatches Button away.


However the Woking squad is also still in negotiation with Kimi Raikkonen, whose management paid their own visit to the factory earlier this week, as revealed by ITV.com/f1.



Although Button and Brawn have publicly insisted that they want to stay together for 2010, it is well known that money has become a stumbling block in their talks.


Button hopes for a pay rise now he has clinched the championship - particularly because he voluntarily took a salary reduction and covered his own travel costs this year as the team's budget was slashed during its transformation from the lavishly-funded Honda works operation to the plucky underdog Brawn GP team.


But while Brawn's finances are now in better shape, with future sponsorship in place and potentially a Mercedes buy-out on the horizon, team boss Ross Brawn has been keen to strike a balance between driver wages and technical spending.


Button's manager Richard Goddard admitted that the situation was becoming frustrating - and was adamant that the new champion is asking for a fair wage.


"Brawn have been saying for months that big sponsors are lined up for 2010 and yet they are simultaneously saying that Jenson's demands – which are way less than under Honda – are not affordable," Goddard told the Daily Telegraph.


"If they really can't afford him, then fair enough; I can quite understand Ross Brawn is reluctant to bankrupt the team for the sake of one guy.


"But if Brawn are going to sell the team, and there is going to be a big influx of money, then why shouldn't Jenson be making some of that?


"He was a major contributor to the team's success this year.


"We have got other irons in the fire.


"Ultimately, Jenson is a very loyal guy but at some point it stops being about the money.


"Let's face it, everyone likes to feel wanted."


If Button does choose to leave Brawn, the world champion team would need a totally new driver line-up for 2010.


Rubens Barrichello has already been announced as a Williams driver, while Nico Rosberg is expected to arrive at Ross Brawn's squad as part of Mercedes' increased involvement.

[gizzy]

Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld are the new drivers for Ross. The Brawn team will now be called Mercedes F1. Mac will continue to use MB engines, but will buy out the manufacturer's stake in the company.

[blacktulip]

So have Brawn dumpted Jenson or has he dumped Brawn

[blacktulip]

Button has said several times since winning the world title that he would ideally like to stay with Brawn, but is seeking a contract worth upwards of £6m a year after taking a £5m pay cut to help the team stay in business last year.

"We can offer a higher proportion of driver freedom and that will probably be the route we will go," said Brawn. "Jenson has some freedom for his own endorsements but has a commitment to meet our obligations."

Button has also reportedly been approached by McLaren, however, who are keen to pair him with Lewis Hamilton. The Surrey-based team would probably be able to match the driver's pay demands, while also allowing him some freedom to negotiate his own sponsorship deals.

[gizzy]

They could not agree on contract terms. Jenson wanted a huge raise, and Ross would not pay it.

[starlightmuse]

like the thought of a great british team with lewis and jenson we must get our home GP then

[WickedPlans]

I absolutely agree that it cements the need for a British GP.
It's an interesting move. They could make quite a team.