Brawn can’t meet Button salary demands; other pay route possible

It doesn’t sound like sponsors are exactly knocking down Ross Brawn’s doors.

The Guardian is reporting that Ross Brawn now is saying his team cannot meet world champ Jenson Button’s pay raise demands, but that allowing Jenson a bit more freedom to negotiate his own deals could be the way to get Button the money he seeks.

Here’s the piece:

Ross Brawn has effectively admitted that he will not match Jenson Button’s wage demands, saying his team would instead offer the driver greater freedom to negotiate his own sponsorship deals.

Button has said several times since winning the world title that he would ideally like to stay with Brawn, but is seeking a contract worth upwards of £6m a year after taking a £5m pay cut to help the team stay in business last year.

“We can offer a higher proportion of driver freedom and that will probably be the route we will go,” said Brawn. “Jenson has some freedom for his own endorsements but has a commitment to meet our obligations.”

Button has also reportedly been approached by McLaren, however, who are keen to pair him with Lewis Hamilton. The Surrey-based team would probably be able to match the driver’s pay demands, while also allowing him some freedom to negotiate his own sponsorship deals.

As the Guardian suggests, this could be what opens the door at McLaren for Button, although you have to assume he would be a bit wary of stepping into Lewis Hamilton’s team.

I also wonder if the tight money scenario at Brawn has anything to do with the rumor of Nico Rosberg heading there, with Mercedes’ blessing / demand of the team. Maybe Rosberg was able to demand just a bit too much?

And that leaves me wondering if Rubens Barrichello would have been the affordable option.

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