Mercedes Rule Out Jenson Button Move to McLaren

McLaren Mercedes denied having any interest in signing newly crowned Formula One champion Jenson Button for their 2010 lineup, as suggested in the British media in recent days. As we've mentioned to you before, the Daily Mail today unveiled the fact that the Woking officials would consider having two world champions lineup up for the championship next year.

Given Jenson Button's “demanding more money and currently not getting it from Brawn GP” situation, McLaren was believed to capitalize on it by offering the 29-year old Brit a multi-year contract at Woking.

However, Mercedes' motorsport director Norbert Haug officially denied the allegations, insisting that the dream of having two British champions in their lineup “doesn't always come true.”

“There are no current negotiations with Jenson Button but I do have understanding for the fact that people in England are dreaming of an English team with two World Champions in the cockpits. However, dreams don't always come true,” Haug told German press agency DPA.

Moving Button to McLaren would have also been preferred by McLaren Mercedes' title sponsor Vodafone, as such a move would have attracted a massive support from the majority of the Formula One fans in the UK. Two world champions, both British, driving for a British team and backed by a British sponsor would have made for some great marketing next year.

However, it is believed Mercedes would want a German driver lineup up next to Hamilton for the upcoming season, the two names that have surfaced in the media in recent weeks being Nico Rosberg (although the Williams driver is also linked with a move to Brawn GP) and Nick Heidfeld.