The money does not matter, says Button

Posted at 12:00am on 04 June 2009

By Alan Baldwin

ISTANBUL, June 4 (Reuters) - Formula One leader Jenson Button refused to let talk of multi-million pound pay rises and new contracts turn his head at the Turkish Grand Prix on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Briton, chasing his sixth win in seven races this season, made clear that the only figure he was focusing on was being the number one on the racetrack and in the championship.

British media reported last week that Button's Mercedes-powered Brawn GP team were prepared to offer him a significant rise to reward him for agreeing to a hefty pay cut at the start of the season.

Button slashed his salary to secure his Formula One survival after Honda, Brawn's predecessors, announced in December they were pulling out for financial reasons.

Some estimates have suggested he took a 5 million pound ($8.19 million) hit, reducing his annual wages to around 3 million.

The Briton told reporters on Thursday that the money was not on his mind.

"I haven't spoken to anyone about it," he said of the pay rise speculation. "I've read the articles and that's about it. Even after reading the articles I haven't spoken to the team about it because I'm not interested.

"I'm here to race and I don't want to talk about money...it's irrelevant at the moment.

"I'm not thinking about money at all. I was with this team and continued with this team because I thought the car would be competitive, that's all," he added.

TITLE OVER

Button said he was happy at Brawn and would not talk to the team about his future until "a lot, lot later in the season".

"I'm having a great time, but I know that it could end very quickly if you take your eye off the ball, so that's not what I'm going to do," he added.

Button has a 16 point lead over team mate Rubens Barrichello and, at the current rate, could wrap up the title with four or five races in hand.

Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso and Ferrari's Felipe Massa, last year's runner-up, both saw that as a real possibility.

"There is a possibility that if Jenson continues winning, the championship will be mathematically over after 12 or 13 races," said Renault's Alonso. There are 17 races in the championship, ending in Abu Dhabi in November.

"And for us much earlier than that, unfortunately," he added. "I think it's good for him, obviously, but it's a shame because it has been very nice to see the last two championships decided in the last race.

"I'm not saying this year is boring, but you know... In the end, the best wins and Jenson has been by far the best in the first part of the season," added the Spaniard. "And if he continues at this level he will be champion very soon."

Massa, 43 points adrift of Button, has already given up any hope of the title.

"I'm not the kind of guy who gives up very easily, so I'll fight until the last corner of the last race," said the Brazilian, winner of the last three Turkish Grands Prix. "But, in my experience, Brawn will be champions.

"It's impossible to believe that they are going to lose the championship. For me it's already over."

(Editing by Alison Wildey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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