Ecclestone: Button and Brawn just sparring
Bernie Ecclestone believes a deal between Brawn and Jenson Button is imminent
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Saturday, 14, Nov 2009 12:18
By Adam Leveridge.
Bernie Ecclestone believes Brawn GP and Jenson Button are "probably just sparring" and that a contract will be signed imminently.
Button's future with the Brackley-based team with whom he won the 2009 formula one drivers' world title is in doubt today, after the Briton and his management were given a tour of McLaren's Woking Technical Centre by Martin Whitmarsh.
The newly-crowned world champion has been in talks with Brawn GP since clinching the title in Brazil, however, the team are believed to either be unwilling or unable to meet Button's pay demands.
However, F1-supremo Ecclestone believes both parties are simply trying to get the upper-hand in the contract negotiations.
"Even drivers are not immune to the recession and if teams are cutting back because they don't have the same level of sponsorship then salaries will come down," Ecclestone told the Daily Express.
"The big-spending days are probably over but teams will pay for the best - it is about market forces.
"It would not be ideal for F1 to have two world champions in the same team but Brawn and Button are probably just sparring at the moment and something will be worked out."