Button, a salary that is debated

Jenson Button, although he can celebrate his world champion title, cannot enjoy it as he would like. The Briton has still not signed anything for the 2010 season, the world champion's salary posing a problem. Currently, negotiations appear to be at a standstill between Ross Brawn and the pilot's manager, Richard Goddard.

The latter also says he is surprised that the talks are not progressing. “We are not asking for anything scandalous,” Goddard commented in The Express. Jenson Button, at the start of the season, accepted a salary reduction in order to help Ross Brawn keep the team, let go by Honda, afloat.

« Three months before Honda pulled out, Jenson signed a contract that would have paid him more than we're asking for right now. » Indeed, the Briton had received the assurance of a salary of eight million pounds per year but, after the manufacturer's withdrawal, Button had accepted a reduction of five million on his annual salary.

Now world champion Formula 1, Jenson Button would like to see his salary adapt to his new status. “ We recognize that times have changed but he is world champion », adds his manager. But for Ross Brawn, even if the team is doing better, the bill is steep.

« We can offer a higher degree of freedom to the pilot and that will probably be the path we take, Brawn told the Guardian. Jenson (currently) has some freedom for his contracts but must respect his obligations. »

The option McLaren-Mercedes could then be tempting, Jenson Button being less greedy than Kimi Räikkönen financially. But the attachment linking Ross Brawn to Jenson Button could lead the two men to get along.