Dennis admits he tried to explore Button pay-cut

Jenson Button will next year earn the full $18 million promised to him in his existing contract. The pay dispute between the 2009 world champion - who was contractually guaranteed a $6 million pay-rise ahead of the second year of the deal - and team supremo Ron Dennis was reportedly central to Button's recent deliberations over his future.

And, with McLaren set to take a financial hit with the potential loss of sponsors and significant official prize income, Dennis did not even hide that he tried to re-negotiate Button's deal. "I'm a businessman and I did explore that between him and I," said the 68-year-old. "But that's my job."

Separately, Dennis told the British broadcaster Sky that despite the team's 2015 struggle on track, McLaren will cope financially in 2016, especially after agreeing the new sponsor deal with Chandon and having other potential backers "in the pipeline". "We are in a pretty unique position," he said. "Most people are paying significant sums for engines, it is the way you construct your budget that is important and we have more than enough to be competitive." (GMM)

Replies (2)

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  • Unless he needed JB to keep some sponsors or his set-up experience, then he's just wasted €6m as JB is now longer motivated and a new driver would have saved him money and been just as quick....I like JB, but it's time for the next JB to join F1.

    • + 0
    • Oct 1 2015 - 16:06
  • scf1fan

    Posts: 58

    Hey Ron!! Maybe you should cut the pay of the "idiot" who decided to quit MB and go with Honda? (And how much did you have to pay Alonzo? What did he cost you the last time? 100 million?) Talk about being Penny wise and Pound foolish . . . (That is an English expression after all.)

    • + 0
    • Oct 2 2015 - 03:01

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  • Team McLaren
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