| Jenson Button may have won the Driver's | | | | confident fashion. It looked for all the world like |
| Championship in Formula One for 2009, but rumor has | | | | Michael Schumacher was actually driving the car. Then |
| it Brawn GP may not be rushing to resign him as a | | | | a funny thing happened. Other teams started |
| driver for 2010. Could the champion really be on his | | | | catching up and, to be frank, Button started to flail |
| way to another team next year? | | | | about like an amateur. Not only was he losing to |
| The 2009 season was one for the ages in Formula | | | | other teams, but his teammate Barrichello was |
| One. Honda bailed out on Formula One only to be | | | | regularly outdriving him. Ultimately, he was able to ride |
| hamstrung by labor laws in England where the F1 | | | | his huge point lead from the early part of the season |
| team was based. After much back and forth, Honda | | | | to a championship, but not impressively so. |
| actually paid for the team to function in 2009 with | | | | Button is out of a contract with Brawn as the term |
| Ross Brawn and some investors running the show. | | | | of his last deal has run out. Traditionally, a crowned |
| The Brawn name was put on the team and the cars | | | | Formula One champion would simply re-up with his |
| started running practice sessions only a few weeks | | | | current team for a nice pay raise. Brawn is offering a |
| before the first races. | | | | contract, but apparently for the same fee as 2009 or |
| The drivers for Brawn were in equally unique | | | | even a reduced amount! This would seem to suggest |
| situations. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello faced | | | | that Ross Brawn feels the car, not the driver, was |
| exclusion from the field. Neither had an alternative | | | | the key to the championships. |
| lined up. This was problematic since history has | | | | Button is all in a fluster, but it is remarkable that no |
| shown that a driver who leaves F1 for even a year | | | | other team has exactly made a move to snap him |
| rarely gets back into the field. With this in mind, both | | | | up. His camp has suggested McLaren is interested, |
| drivers agreed to slash their salaries to help the team | | | | but Norbert Huag has said No! in a rather direct |
| get through 2009. To the surprise of everyone, the | | | | manner! The only seats that might be available would |
| cars were blindingly fast and eventually won both | | | | be at Toyota or Renault. Both would be a big step |
| championships. | | | | back in quality for Button, so it will be interesting to |
| The story of Jenson Button in 2009 is an interesting | | | | see what happens. Will his pride or desire to win |
| one. He was utterly dominant the first half of the | | | | races be the bigger influence? |
| season. He won practically every race and in | | | | |