FROM SpeedTV: Nick Fry was the first to congratulate Button after he won the Monaco Grand Prix. Jenson Button is moving towards signing to remain with Brawn GP beyond 2009, the team's chief executive said on Sunday. 29-year-old Button agreed to screw up a lucrative long-term contract ahead of this season, that was inked before big-spending Honda decided to pull out of formula one. "I could have taken the money and run -- because it was a lot of money," the Briton told The Times earlier this week. "But what would be the point? What was I going to do with it?" In its place, Button agreed a single-year deal on a much reduced retainer for 2009, and CEO Nick Fry believes the winner of 6 Grands Prix is now likely to renew it. "My objective and our objective is to have him for the rest of his career. Nothing's changed on that front," said Fry, who collected the winning constructor's trophy from the Monaco podium on Sunday. "I think it's mutual that he would like to stay with the team. After the performance - five race wins - we should be able to get something together," he told the BBC. Fry, however, admitted that the value of a driver that has won more than 80 per cent of the races so far this year is certain to have gone up since his haul of a measly 3 points in 2008. "I'm sure he will be sitting there with his people and they're thinking that his price is going up the whole time," he said. "But maybe the sponsorship for the team is going up too, so maybe we can afford it."
why would he go anywhere else?that would be stupid like Alonso's 07 move(win back-to-back Championships on both fronts and leave the team you got it with).What made Alonso do that,that little test session of his.
When Alonso made the decision to leave Renault, it was because corporate Renault was not sure if they would continue in F1, and could not promise him a ride if his contract was extended. Not much of a choice, so he left for a confirmed ride.
Jenson I think is now motivated by winning, not the money. He knows that Ross Brawn is great at what he does so I don't think he would leave the team at this point in his career.
Can -No Big Sponsor- Brawn afford him? In today's market is there a sponsor out there willing to pay him the way Marlboro pays driver salaries?
As soon as Brawn lands a title sponsor Button (and may be Rubens too) will ask for more dough. It's only natural that he's compensated after scrapping his juicy contract. If there is sponsor money out there Brawn will for sure get it. They are apparently funded for the rest of 2009 and can afford to choose.
I don't think he's ever been particularly motivated by money, he has always been motivated by the desire to win, which is why he spent a lot of money buying himself out of a contract to stay with what he believed would be a winning team.
In F1 when it comes to money no one can afford to wait. The idea that today's sponsor money will be available tomorrow is a bet no one can take.
+1, he stayed committed to Honda/Brawn despite them going into bankruptcy(that the right word to describe it ?) and I believe I recall him saying that'd he race for free. Really a great honest guy who loves the sport, wish him all the best.
Yes, and a salary cut this year, although I would imagine it just wasn't possible to pay his existing salary.
Well a good point, but I reckon his stock value as of now has changed. When all is said and done it does require a good car to show off your skill, but folk can be a bit to quick to throw drivers on the scrap heap given the reverse...check Mikes thread..
Point taken but they are funded troughout the year (so no liquidity squeeze) and are looking for a 3 year long term deal as Fry has indicated.
You make it sound like they're worried about having too much money too soon. Where is this year's funding coming from? Virgin's deal as announced is too small and I doubt that its Honda money that is still keeping the team running.
That and a TREMENDOUS sense of loyalty. He stayed with a suck-arse Honda team for far too long, but he not only honored his contract but also re-signed with them. If any driver deserves this kind of success, it's Jensen and probably Mark Webber.
