Brawn: Rivals tried to unsettle Button with offers

Thursday 5th November 2009

Ross Brawn has accused other teams of trying to unsettle Jenson Button with offers during the season.

After clinching the World Championship in Brazil just over two weeks ago, a relieved Button spoke of the pressures he was under in attempting to close out the season following his phenomenal start.

It would appear that those 'pressures' included teams attempting to prise away the 29-year-old from Brawn GP.

Confirming other teams have, and still are, trying to lure Button as he "has some offers", Brawn told BBC Radio 5Live: "Our business is incredibly competitive.

"There were people, when they became aware of Jenson's contractual situation, who tried to unsettle him during the Championship.

"He knew some of those tactics were for that reason."

A move to McLaren is currently one of the options on the table for Button, who has made it clear he would prefer to remain at Brawn.

However, there is an impasse over his salary demands, of which Brawn said: "Jenson wants a very competitive car and he wants a reasonable salary.

"If we offer those two things we'll find a reasonable solution. I'm pretty optimistic.

"It's not a situation we would have planned, to be at this stage without the world champion tied up, but all the talks have been positive so far."

Although it is widely believed that a deal for Nico Rosberg has already been concluded, Brawn GP insist the German will not be confirmed until the issues around Button have been resolved.

"Once we've got Jenson sorted we'll be announcing our whole package, and we want to make an impact when we do that," confirmed Brawn.

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