Scottish legendary driver and 3-time Formula One champion Sir Jackie Stewart is the first to advise Button against such a move – now that Max Mosley is no longer president of the FIA, the former champ has to look for new topics – as it would only lead to him playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton.
He compared the move to what happened to him during his fruitful career in Formula One, as he himself turned down a deal from Lotus to become Jim Clark's teammate for the same reason: it would have led to a lieutenant role in the team.
“I felt that Jimmy just had his feet too far under the table. I don't think it would have been the right thing for me to do any more than it would be for Jenson at McLaren,” said the Scot.
Another triple-crowned champion of Formula One who thinks Jenson Button sits best at Brawn rather than McLaren is Austrian driver Niki Lauda. Just like Stewart, Lauda believes Button would be unable to defend his title in a team where Hamilton is very much the owner of all things, given his “special relationship” with the Woking outfit.
“I think Jenson needs to be very certain that he wants to go into a team which Hamilton has very much made his own. If the money involved is about the same, or even slightly less, then Jenson should stay with Brawn,” said Lauda.
Button and his manager were spotted taking a tour of the Woking factory during the weekend – the information was even confirmed by a McLaren spokesman – and reportedly met with team principal Martin Whitmarsh to hold a preliminary talk on the matter.
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