Red Bull Surprised Button Is Still Unsigned for 2010

If Jenson Button will leave Brawn GP at the end of the 2009 season it would be only the first time since Damon Hill back in 1996 that a driver leaves the team with whom he won the world championship in Formula One. Given the immense success that the 29-year old Brit had with Brawn in 2009, Red Bull's manager Christian Horner admitted his surprise over the situation.

According to Horner, a world class driver like Button should not have to wait until the very last round of the season in order to ink a new deal for 2010.

“I just find it staggering he's won the world championship and had a brilliant year and he hasn't been signed up for next year. If I was Brawn, I'd get off the fence pretty quickly because he's a pretty attractive proposition. I wouldn't hang about too long if I were them,” said Horner, prior to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Since Button admitted that he has already held talks with several other teams for a potential deal in 2010, the media started rumoring about the Brit's destination. The majority of the reports that appeared in the UK suggested that Button is eyeing a deal with McLaren Mercedes, where he would partners countryman and friend Lewis Hamilton.

It seems such a move is also preferred by McLaren's title sponsor Vodafone, as the British phone company would be more than glad to see two British drivers compete for the most popular British team in Formula One.

Both Brawn GP and McLaren Mercedes are to announce their lineups during the course of next week.