Zoom Brawn and Button seemingly no closer to a deal

Jenson Button's management appears unmoved after Ross Brawn offered to give the new world champion more freedom to earn money through personal sponsorships in 2010.

As the parties face off over wage negotiations for next year, team boss Brawn indicated this week that while a pay-rise is unlikely, the 29-year-old Briton could instead be offered a "higher proportion of driver freedom".

British media reports claim that Button earned about £3m in 2009, and wants between £6m and £8m million next year amid rumours of a possible switch to McLaren.

"We are not asking for anything outrageous," his manager Richard Goddard told the Express newspaper in the wake of Brawn's comments.

"Just three months before Honda pulled out last November, Jenson signed a contract which would have given him a lot more money than we're looking for now.

"We recognise times have changed but he is the world champion now and the team have turned things around," added Goddard.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he thought Button and Brawn sorting out their differences was a more likely outcome than a Button/Lewis Hamilton pairing at McLaren.

"It would not be ideal for F1 to have two world champions in the same team but Brawn and Button are probably just sparring at the moment and something will be worked out," he said.

Source: GMM
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