Button can thrive alongside Hamilton – Coulthard

Brawn/Mercedes bosses Ross Brawn and Nick Fry have admitted disappointment after 2009 world champion Jenson Button on Wednesday jumped ship to rivals McLaren.

“I was very disappointed at the way things finished up with Jenson,” admitted team principal Brawn to the UK newspaper Daily Express.

The parties have been locked in post-season negotiations about Button’s salary for 2010, sparking waves of rumours and leaks about the purported figures involved.

Chief executive Fry said: “We offered loyalty which we hoped, perhaps naively, he would return.”

“There is bravery and there is stupidity and we will only find out which it is next year,” he said in an interview with the Mirror.

“We believe we made Jenson a good offer — one that was significantly more than he is being paid at McLaren.  We are all mystified by this decision.

“We think he has been badly advised and had his head turned by McLaren’s glitzy headquarters,” added Fry.

It has been rumoured that the situation came to a head with the announcement of Mercedes’ takeover, amid speculation Button felt the team should up its offer, and rumours that the German carmaker was pushing the Briton out.

“We made him an honest offer, but without him we can start with a clean slate.  We wish him all the best,” Norbert Haug is quoted in the German media as saying.

Button can thrive alongside Hamilton – Coulthard

David Coulthard has rubbished reports his friend Jenson Button will be unable to thrive alongside fellow British world champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.

In the wake of Wednesday’s announcement, the Times newspaper’s Edward Gorman accused new title winner Button, 29, of making “one of the least wise moves in recent formula one history” by switching from Brawn/Mercedes.

Many pundits agree that with Hamilton so ensconced at the Woking based team and one of F1’s most highly rated drivers, Button will comparatively struggle.

“It’s as if Lewis Hamilton’s victory in 2008 was somehow more worthy,” Coulthard wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph.

“This is an opportunity to see the last two world champions putting their reputations on the line on an equal footing,” the Scot, who contested 150 grands prix for McLaren, added.

Button’s first non-press release reaction was also bullish: “Would I fancy my chances against him (Hamilton)?  Well, every driver would, every driver wants to show to themselves, more than anyone else, how good they are.”

Former team owner turned BBC pundit Eddie Jordan, however, believes Button faces a tough challenge for his championship year.

“Lewis’ father, Anthony, is a tough customer and he will be looking for absolutely the best for that side of the camp,” he is quoted by The Sun as having said.

“Jenson will need to play all his cards very well.”

source: GMM