Button: Cash not the issue
TRIUMPHANT Jenson Button will make an emotional return to Brawn GP’s Northamptonshire factory today to personally thank staff for making him a world champion.
The British driver, who clinched the title in Brazil on Sunday, will visit his team’s headquarters in Brackley having landed back on home soil yesterday.
Button saw many of his colleagues at a party after being crowned champion at the weekend, but is keen to express his gratitude in a more conducive setting.
“It was nice to see them, but it was quite busy and I couldn’t congratulate them in the way I wanted to,” Button said yesterday.
“I’m at the factory tomorrow and I’m so excited about it. I’m doing some work in the simulator ahead of the race in Abu Dhabi next month.
“But mostly it is to see everyone that made this happen, that put this together, spending the day with those people and that will be the special time for me.”
The 29-year-old is yet to confirm that he will drive next season for Brawn GP, who were only formed this year from the ashes of Honda. Button is said to want a bumper pay rise, having been forced to slash his salary to £3m last year, but the driver played down the issue of finance.
“It’s not about the money. I want to be with a team that can win,” he added. “I have become world champion with a team that nobody ever thought would win the championship, especially in their first year, but there are many things that we need to talk about.”
Button is only sixth favourite with many bookmakers to win the 2010 title, but is desperate to become the first Briton to defend the championship. “This team is not a one-hit wonder,” he said. “And neither am I.
“It’s great to win the world championship but to be able to defend it is exceptional. No British driver has ever won back to back titles – so that is an ambition.”