Button's decision unwise, says Stewart
Sir Jackie believes Button will find it difficult to marry into McLaren
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Wednesday, 18, Nov 2009 04:04
By Adam Leveridge
Triple formula one world champion Sir Jackie Stewart has criticised Jenson Button's decision to switch from Brawn to McLaren, saying it will be "like walking into the lion's den" to work alongside Lewis Hamilton.
After weeks of speculation, it was announced on Wednesday that the 2009 drivers' world champion would join Lewis Hamilton at the Woking-based team after talks between Brawn, which is now known as Mercedes GP, and Button broke-down.
Button signed a three-year contract with McLaren and is believed to have negotiated a deal worth £6m per season, which is double what he earned with Brawn in 2009.
However, in an interview on BBC Radio Five Live, Stewart said he believes Button's decision to move to McLaren is unwise as it will be difficult for him to take on Hamilton.
"It's like walking into the lion's den, because Lewis has had three years with McLaren now. He has it his way," said Stewart.
"He's already disposed of one driver that came in there in [Fernando] Alonso.
"Fernando couldn't cut it against Hamilton, and I think that Lewis will want to retain his position of prominence in that team. Whereas at Brawn, I think Button would have had an advantage over his potential team-mate Nico Rosberg, having knowledge of the team.
"What we're looking at today is two guys who want to be number one.
"That situation in one team sometimes makes imperfect bed partners, because there will be differences from time to time, even though McLaren are probably the best engineering team with the most capacity to do the job."
Button was expected to remain with Brackley-based Brawn GP in 2010. However, the two parties were unable to come to a mutually acceptable agreement over the terms of Button's contract - forcing the new drivers' champion to look elsewhere.
Stewart believes Button will find it difficult to adapt to the clinical and perfectionist nature of McLaren.
"I think it's a mistake by Jenson," said Stewart.
"If I was Jenson, I would've wanted to do a deal with Brawn - because I know the culture of the Brawn team, I have high respect for Ross Brawn, I know the mechanics.
"There's a totally different culture in McLaren, something that he might never have experienced before.
"They have a very clinical culture which doesn't have the emotion or the drive in the same passionate way that Brawn would have had with him there as the reigning world champion.
"I do believe that the McLaren car next season will be one of - if not the - best car on the grid, as Ferrari will also be better next year.
"So he's going to a team that wants to succeed."