Jenson Button McLaren deal set to be signed
November 17
Nov.17 (GMM) 2009 world champion Jenson Button appears poised to leave
Brawn GP, which has been bought and renamed by Mercedes, and join
McLaren for the 2010 season.
An amazing year for Ross Brawn
Over the last 11 months, Ross Brawn and his team took a bad situation and transformed it into one of the most successful turnarounds in Formula One history: taking a nearly-folded operation, bringing it to double championship glory and then selling three quarters of the team to a world-renowned car manufacturer – and remaining in charge to top it off... Â
Brawn rules out Schumacher return
• Nico Rosberg confirmed as first nominated Mercedes driver• Fellow German driver Nick Heidfeld likely to join RosbergMichael Schumacher's return to Formula One was effectively ruled out today when Nico Rosberg was confirmed as Mercedes-Benz's first nominated driver for next season's world championship.From the moment Jenson Button, having won the title for the team as Brawn, signed for McLaren last week there had been mounting speculation that Schumacher, who will be 41 next year, was considering a comeback to spearhead the official return of the "Silver Arrows" to grand prix for the first time since 1955.However, Ross Brawn, the Mercedes team principal, made it clear that Schumacher would not be picking up the threads of a full-time Formula One career that ended in 2006, even though he gave serious consideration to taking the role of temporary stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari this year. This plan was thwarted by a neck injury sustained earlier in the year in a motorcycle testing crash."The issue now haunts the media, I know," Brawn told the German newspaper Bild, "but there is nothing in it. The media are trying to put together a dream. Michael would have returned to the cockpit for Ferrari but only temporarily. He has no ambitions to start a new career."If we get a combination of two equally strong drivers, then the strategy will be different than if you have a winner like Michael. Following Button's move to McLaren, we will think differently. My desire is to find two experienced drivers. Nico Rosberg has more than three years in Formula One, so I count him to be experienced."Brawn seemed to be steering speculation in the direction of Nick Heidfeld, another German driver, and one with 167 grand prix starts under his belt. "I do not want a novice who must find his way around racetracks because we have very few opportunities to test drivers now. Performance without much practice is therefore the task. The good thing is we are not in a hurry."Formula OneMichael SchumacherBrawnMotor sportAlan Henryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds 
Button out to prove class - Brawn
Mercedes boss Ross Brawn says world champion Jenson Button joined McLaren to prove his driving ability.
12/23/09
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Mercedes to take over Brawn
• Mercedes to end its partnership with McLaren• Move could lead to Jenson Button joining McLarenMercedes-Benz today announced it was taking over the Brawn GP Formula One team while ending its partnership with McLaren.Mercedes engines powered Brawn's Jenson Button to the world championship in the recently completed season while the team also claimed the constructors' championship.They will now increase their involvement while Button has been strongly linked with a move to McLaren to team up with his fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton.Mercedes have taken a 75.1% controlling interest in Brawn, although they will continue to be the engine supplier to McLaren.The team principal, Ross Brawn, is expected to remain in his role but the future of his drivers is more uncertain.Button was recently shown around McLaren's Woking premises after reaching an impasse in his contract negotiations with Brawn.The 29-year-old had turned down a reported £4m contract offer – which represented a £1m rise on his current deal but was less than half of what he had earned with Brawn's forerunner, Honda.Button was widely lauded for accepting a £5m pay cut at the start of the 2009 season and expected his loyalty to have been rewarded after leading Brawn to two titles in their debut season.But Mercedes's new influence at Brawn could lead to the German-born Niko Rosberg being installed as lead driver, with BMW's Nick Heidfeld as his likely partner – allowing Button to pursue options elsewhere.That is most likely to be at McLaren, with the constructor's sponsors Vodafone happy to bankroll at least part of Button's wages if he were to form an all-English drivers' line-up alongside the 2008 champion, Hamilton.Yesterday the Mercedes Sports president, Norbert Haug, revealed he was attempting to secure Heidfeld, who has driven for BMW since 2006. "We are speaking with Nick Heidfeld as well," Haug told DPA. "Mercedes-Benz supports the idea of signing an experienced and capable German driver. There is, however, no reason to finalise the driver situation too hastily."BrawnMcLarenJenson ButtonFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Schumacher sets sights on eighth title
• German signs one-year contract with Ross Brawn's team• Schumacher will be 41-years-old upon return to trackMichael Schumacher believes he can win an unprecedented eighth Formula One world championship next season after confirming that he will come out of retirement to drive for Mercedes.Schumacher, who will be 41 on 3 January, has signed a one-year contract, with options for a further two seasons, to partner Nico Rosberg at the former Brawn team. Brawn GP collected the drivers' championship, through Jenson Button, and the constructors' title last season and Schumacher is targeting identical success for the rebranded squad."I have won it seven times and I'm with the team that won both titles last season, so what do you expect?" he said. "You can't expect anything else other than to go for the world championship and that's what we are aiming for."Schumacher secured the last of his championships with Ferrari in 2004 and has not raced in Formula One since 2006. The German will be the grid's oldest driver. Button, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, three likely title rivals, will be 30, 25 and 22 when the season starts.A neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February ruled out Schumacher's proposed comeback for Ferrari last season as a substitute for the injured Felipe Massa. But he has no doubts about his fitness or competitiveness in joining the Mercedes team run by Ross Brawn, who managed Schumacher's seven world championships at Benetton and Ferrari."I am absolutely confident I can do what's necessary," Schumacher said. "When I returned to the go-kart [for a recent race against F1 drivers in Brazil], I straight away was on the pace. Now I have to prove it in the real car and go wheel to wheel with many of those guys."The motivation is pretty straightforward. I got a call from Ross at the beginning of November asking me to race again, telling me Mercedes were going to be involved. That seemed pretty good to me. I was tired of F1 by the end of 2006 and three years' absence gave back all the energy that I'm feeling right now. Having played around with motorbikes and go-karts, I feel ready for some serious stuff."Before I gave a final OK, I had to be sure 100% that there were no further issues with my neck. Unfortunately it was too close to the accident in the summer when I considered going to Ferrari after Felipe's accident. But the time is enough now to heal [the injury] completely. I have tested everything that I can and I have no problem whatsoever now."Brawn said the renewal of his association with Schumacher did not come at the expense of Button, who has joined Hamilton at McLaren for 2010. "We made a big effort to keep him but it wasn't possible in the end," he said. "I had a loyalty to Jenson but, when that started to look difficult, I started talking to Michael."Brawn said he had let Schumacher answer questions about his motivation and speed following a long absence from such a competitive arena. "I trust him implicitly and he told me he can do it. He has always been his own best critic, the man himself knows what he is capable of. I am very comfortable and confident and put my trust in Michael, and it won't be misplaced."Schumacher's lengthy list of records includes the most world titles, most race victories (91), most pole positions (68) and highest number of wins in one season (13 in 2004). His return with Brawn severs a 14-year connection with Ferrari, Schumacher having spent the past three years as a consultant and ambassador there."The only reason I seriously thought about my return is because it is old friends that have asked me. Working with Ross and Mercedes is now possible and I'm happy to give something back that Mercedes gave me in the early days," he said, referring to its support for his career before he reached Formula One.Hamilton welcomed the chance to race Schumacher, whom he described as "a legend". He said: "I used to watch Michael race when I was in the junior categories and I always hoped that I would be in F1 while he was still around. I'm really looking forward to seeing him on the track and back at the top. It's brilliant news."Michael SchumacherMercedes GPFormula OneMotor sportMaurice Hamiltonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Button agrees to join McLaren
• Button will sign contract with McLaren in the next few days• Champion unfazed by being Lewis Hamilton's team-mateJenson Button has agreed terms to join McLaren on a...
11/16/09
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Mercedes in no hurry to replace Button
Ross Brawn has hinted strongly that the newly rebranded Mercedes team is only on the market for a single driver for 2010...
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11/20/09
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Rivals tried to 'unsettle' Button,...
Rival teams tried to "unsettle" Jenson Button this season by offering him alternative cockpits for 2010, according to his boss Ross Brawn...
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11/05/09
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Brawn: "Button offered other...
Nov.5 (GMM) Rival teams tried to unsettle Jenson Button this season by offering him alternative cockpits for 2010, according to his boss Ross Brawn.
11/05/09
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Mercedes hope to keep hold of Button
Mercedes will bow to Ross Brawn's wishes and negotiate to keep the world champion Jenson Button as a driver next season, a team source has confirmed.
Button's best future is with us, says Brawn
Ross Brawn broke his silence yesterday to publicly address rumours that Formula One world champion Jenson Button will join rival team McLaren next season.
Button had no choice says Jordan
Former grand prix team owner Eddie Jordan believes Jenson Button had no option but to sign for McLaren following the Mercedes-Benz takeover of Brawn GP earlier this week.
11/18/09
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Mercedes takes over F1 champ Brawn
Mercedes-Benz is taking over Formula One champion Brawn GP and plans to end its stake in McLaren, the German car company announced monday.
11/16/09
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Hamilton challenge excites Button
World champion Jenson Button says he is excited by the prospect of going head-to-head with former champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.
11/19/09
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Brawn: "We're in no hurry for drivers"
Nov.20 (GMM) Boss Ross Brawn has hinted strongly that the newly rebranded Mercedes GP team is only on the market for a single driver for 2010.
11/20/09
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