Button signs 3-year McLaren contract. CONFIRMED
 

Stories flying all over the place this morning that Jenson has agreed a £6m a year 3-year deal with McLaren :O

There is an article in the Guardian this morning. Wonder if Kimi will go to Merc GP now? They said they didn't want an all-German line-up...

http://planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5699508,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009...laren-contract

Bunsen's offer : 'The Guardian understands that the World Champion has turned his back on Brawn following protracted negotiations and will almost double his salary with the Woking-based team. '

Now!! if McLaren are offering 6 million quid a year to Bunsen, and this is double what Brawn were offering, then one can only assume that Brawn were offering peanuts to this year's Champion. What the hell!!!
And Lewis Hamilton is getting 12 million quid a year!!

I am flabbergasted!! http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Something seems fishy...

So 3 million quid a year is peanuts is it ? I wouldn't mind being a pound or 2 behind that !

Yeah!! I get the same feeling. The signing is supposed to be in three day's time.

I read an article last week which interviewed Ross Brawn and he claimed the talks with Button stalled at the £7m mark?? So either one story is untrue, or maybe Mercedes really just wanted Button out of there and a lesser paid contract at Mclaren is his only option. Not a bad option, but it'll be a demotion in terms of lead status IMO.. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

He'll still have the number 1 on his car http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Well thats alright then, I'm sure this will keep him happy http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

If Brawn wasn't willing to pay Button £6m a year after a world title and Mercedes backing.. maybe they didn't want him at all? Are Mercedes interfering with Brawn's selection of drivers or what?

No they aren't. As there is no such thing as Brawn any more. They are Mercedes, and they can do as they please.

And perhaps we can arrange for Lewy to wear a cap that says "2" on it all season a la Rubens in his Red days - i'd pay good money 4 that.

True, but I meant Ross Brawn as opposed to the team. As team principal and with a 25% stake in the team he must still get some say in who drives?

Me too http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/styles/World/icons/icon14.gif
It would be quite ironic with the on track performance being totally the opposite. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

Money aside, Button probably should have retired from F1. I don't think Brawn was entirely happy with either driver last year and probably thought the championship fights went on longer than they should have. Button may be the champion but it would seem that few feel inclined to pay him what he desires. Hamilton is on his way to becoming an exceptional driver and against him, Button will appear average at best.

Button struggled against Barichello, now nothing against Rubens but I think his best days are behind him. So I'd be surprised to see what he can do against Hamilton.

I hope McLaren don't treat him in the same way as they did Kovalinen!

I agree that he will struggle to match Hamiltons pace, but retiring would be abit drastic IMO. Button is alot better than some of the field and has a wealth of experience, and when you compare him to the likes of Trulli, well. I don't think Mclaren will treat Button the same as Heikki as Button seems a stronger personality and not someone who just rolls over. Heikki is a great guy but he lacks that killer instinct IMO.. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

Ross Brawn isn't stupid...if the majority owner doesn't care much for Button he won't fight that hard to keep him. They have Rosberg, who while a talent has yet to have a decent car, and they could get Heidfeld for a fraction of the cost of Button.

How badly did McLaren treat Heikki exactly? Fact is he was beaten, by quite some way, by a better driver and showed that he's merely average.

He did get beaten, in that there is no doubt. But McLaren who were struggling saw this and decided to put their efforts into getting wins for Hamilton, which they suceeded in doing, but it was somewhat at Kovalinen's cost.

Indeed which proves my point that he lacks that killer instinct. Drivers in the past have come into teams and forced their dominance to get the lead role, and Heikki didn't achieve that IMO.. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

You can have all the killer instinct you want, but if you aren't fast enough, you aren't fast enough.