McLaren Mercedes has signed Jenson Button to replace Heikki Kovalainen and partner Lewis Hamilton next season. The multi-year deal means that the Woking-based team will retain the number ‘1’ next season having secured the services of the current world champion.
Button was unable to conclude a deal with Brawn GP, having helped the team to the constructors’ championship and claimed the drivers’ championship this year. In joining McLaren, he ensures that 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen is likely – as previously reported – to spend next season on the sidelines.
“It’s always a difficult decision to leave a team when you’ve been there for so long,” said Button. “But life is all about challenges – and, most important of all, it’s about challenging yourself. So, although I won the championship with Brawn GP last year, and I’ll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges.
“So that’s why I’ve decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,” he continued. “You can’t help but be affected by this team’s phenomenal history. I’ve followed the McLaren team ever since I was a small boy, and it feels unbelievable to finally be a part of it.
Button started his Formula One career with Williams in 2000 before moving to Benetton/Renault. He joined British American Racing in 2003 and remained with the Brackley-based team following the acquisition first by Honda and then more recently by Brawn. His first season with McLaren will be his 11th year of competition.
The announcement marks the first time in Formula One history that a team has started the new season with a line-up featuring the most recent two successive world champions.
“It’s fantastic that we’ll be forming an all-British line-up,” Button continued “I know that we both fly the flag with pride, and I sincerely hope we can make the whole of the United Kingdom, as well as McLaren Mercedes fans across the world, proud.
Nothing means more to me than to be able to represent my country, and I’m looking forward to both of us painting Formula One’s circuits red, white and blue for many years to come.”
Hamilton had been keen to see the team retain Kovalainen next season but welcomed Button to the team whilst wishing his former team-mate the best for the future.
“It’s fantastic news that Jenson has decided to join – and I’m looking forward to working with him and our engineers to make sure we kick off the 2010 season with a car that’s competitive enough to win the championship,” said Hamilton. “But I want to send my best wishes for the future to my 2008-09 team-mate and now good friend Heikki Kovalainen, who is one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met.”
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh meanwhile looked to put to an end that Button’s move is solely based on money. It has been suggested that Button and his management were unable to agree terms with Brawn for next season due to the retainer on offer, but this was not the motivating factor for the British racer Whitmarsh insists.
“I want to make clear that Jenson’s decision to join us was in no way motivated by money,” he said. “We’ll be paying him no more than he could be getting elsewhere, and that fact is a reflection of not only Jenson’s belief in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but also his desire and ambition to build on the phenomenal results he achieved during the 2009 season.”
Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
via F1-Live
