MOTORSPORT : Jenson Button’s projected move to McLaren appears to have taken another step towards completion amid reports the Briton is set to be confirmed at the team on Wednesday afternoon.
Jenson Button’s projected move to McLaren appears to have taken another step towards completion amid reports the Briton is set to be confirmed at the team on Wednesday afternoon.
The BBC report the world champion has signed to drive alongside Lewis Hamilton in an all-English line-up at the Woking-based team from next season.
When contacted by Press Association Sport, a McLaren spokesman refused to confirm or deny the speculation that an announcement was imminent.
The anticipated deal comes after Kimi Raikkonen’s manager revealed the Finn had failed to agree terms with McLaren and would take a sabbatical from the sport in 2010.
Button has been heavily linked with McLaren since capturing his maiden drivers’ title in Brazil last month, after talks stalled over a new deal with current employers Brawn GP.
Monday’s announcement that Mercedes-Benz had secured a controlling interest in the Brackley-based Brawn team only served to intensify speculation over where the 29-year-old Briton will be driving next season.
Button and his manager Richard Goddard were shown around McLaren’s Woking headquarters by team principal Martin Whitmarsh last week and, according to Tuesday’s Guardian newspaper, Button has agreed terms on a three-year deal worth £18million.
