13/11/2009
NEWS STORY
Speculation that Jenson Button is to join Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, giving the British team an all-English line-up for 2010, is sure to increase after the 2009 champion visited the team's Woking HQ with his manager.
Button and his manager Richard Goddard visited the McLaren Technology Centre earlier today, where they were personally shown around by team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
The visit comes at a time when it is looking less and less likely that Button will remain with Brawn - with whom he won his title - as the Brackley outfit appears unwilling to meet the Englishman's financial demands.
Speaking following today's visit, Goddard was playing things close to his chest: "As I've said many times before, Jenson wants to drive a car which is capable of winning the next world championship," he told the Guardian. "We've been talking about possible terms for 2010 with Brawn for months and we're not being difficult or unreasonably expensive in our demands for Jenson. In fact we've given up quite a lot of negotiating ground in our discussions with them.
"I think it's important that Jenson wants to feel valued in whatever situation he finds himself next season," Goddard continued. "He needs to explore all the feasible options."
While unwilling to shed too much light on the situation, a McLaren spokesman simply said: "Having just arrived at Heathrow, Jenson made a small detour to Woking to say hello."
While McLaren is also understood to be considering bringing Kimi Raikkonen back on board, there is a feeling that having Button on the team could go some way to taking the wind out of Anthony Hamilton's sails, with some within the Woking outfit said to be unhappy with the 2008 World Champion's father's growing influence.
With Mercedes said to be close to announcing a deal that will see it take a major slice of Brawn, the smart money is on Nico Rosberg leading the Brackley team next season.