Brawn: Rival teams tried to unsettle Button
Brawn GP team principal Ross Brawn has revealed that some of Jenson Button's F1 rivals endeavoured to unsettle the British star during his march to the drivers' title - and used his ongoing contract malaise as ammunition by which to attempt to knock him off his stride.
Though Button and Brawn claimed drivers' and constructors title in Brazil last month, for much of the summer the 29-year-old appeared to be making hard work of things, with just two podium finishes between June and the end of the season.
And Button's team boss Ross Brawn has acknowledged that other teams approached Button during his barren run with offers for 2010 in what he believes was a tactic to try to sway his focus from the job in-hand.
"He has some offers," Brawn said.
"Our business is incredibly competitive. There were people, when they became aware of Jenson's contractual situation, who tried to unsettle him during the championship. He knew some of those tactics were for that reason.
"Jenson wants a very competitive car and he wants a reasonable salary. If we offer those two things, we'll find a reasonable solution.
"I'm pretty optimistic. It's not a situation we would have planned, to be at this stage without the world champion tied up, but all the talks have been positive so far."
The negotiations are still deadlocked over Button's demand for his full Honda salary - two-thirds of which he sacrificed in order to help the team to stay afloat - reinstated, but Brawn are understood to be unwilling to do so.
A move to McLaren-Mercedes alongside compatriot and title-winning predecessor Lewis Hamilton in 2010 has also been mooted, but the general perception is that the Frome-born ace will likely stay put and drive alongside former Williams driver Nico Rosberg.
"Once we've got Jenson sorted. We'll be announcing our whole package," Brawn confirmed, "and we want to make an impact when we do that."
