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McLaren Confirms Jenson Button Visit at Woking

Not only Kimi Raikkonen’s managers traveled to Woking earlier this week to discuss the possibility of the Finn inking a deal with team McLaren Mercedes, but it has now been confirmed that Jenson Button and his own agents have met the McLaren officials on Friday.

After several reports in the British media – started by The Guardian – disclosed that the aforementioned meeting happened a couple of days ago, the McLaren outfit confirmed that the F1 champion and manager Richard Goddard were shown "a small detour to Woking to say hello", a McLaren spokesman said.

That means that Heikki Kovalainen will most likely leave the team at the end of the year, McLaren’s only unknown part of the equation being who’s going to become Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate in the second silver-arrowed car.

Although Ross Brawn recently revealed that he thinks there are close to 100% chances of Button staying at Brackley, the driver’s manager admitted to the media that his client is not at all happy with Brawn’s latest offer. The team owner did not offer Button more money for 2010, but more freedom to sign own endorsements throughout the duration of his new contract.

“Jenson has always controlled his own image rights. If Brawn are going to sell the team, and there is going to be a big influx of money, then why shouldn't Jenson be making some of that?” said Button’s manager, hinting at the potential takeover of the Brawn outfit by German car maker Mercedes Benz.

Ultimately, Jenson is a very loyal guy but at some point it stops being about the money. Let's face it, everyone likes to feel wanted,” added Goddard, pointing at the fact that Button’s title-winning season would only natural have to lead to a bigger paycheck for 2010.

Prior to the start of 2009, the Brit agreed to a 50% pay cut in salary in order to help the team cut costs and make it to the 2009 grid.
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