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Button Sued Brawn GP Over Title Winning Car Ownership

According to some recent reports in the British media, it seems that Jenson Button's leaving his title winning team Brawn GP at the end of last year did not happen so amicably as initially believed. The “break-up” was actually followed by a law suit filed by the 30-year old Brit, who wanted his winning BGP001 car as a prize for his title.

Prior to last season's winning performance by the Brawn GP team, when the organization was still in financial doubt for the 2009 campaign, it was reported that Button agreed to an immense pay cut from the Brackley based organization (his initial salary was actually cut in half). However, the move came with a twist, as the new contract had an interesting clause for the 2010 season.

In the event that the driver wins the championship at any time during the term, the company shall transfer ... ownership of one chassis of the type driven by the driver during that winning season,” red the clause.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Button's request to be given his original BGP001 was met with a refusal from Brawn GP's new owners Mercedes-Benz, who told the Brit that only 6 cars were built.

We have no spare 2009 chassis as limited quantities were manufactured for the 2009 season for cost reasons,” said a statement from the Brackley organization back in January. However, the Anglo-German team offered to build a replica of Button's car instead.

Needless to say, Button did not settle with that, as he argued the replica “would lack the special and unique value of owning one of the very cars he drove to the title.” Consequently, JB Next BV (his company) filed legal action in London's High Court in April against Mercedes GP. However, things seem to have resolved amicably, with Button's spokesman recently confirming the two parties reached an agreement.

We have arrived at an amicable resolution, and so there will no longer be any court action over this,” said the spokesman, hinting that Mercedes have agreed to supply Button with his desired chassis.
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