Ross Brawn has dismissed suggestions that Jenson Button was forced out of Mercedes GP to make way for Michael Schumacher – but has admitted talks with the two drivers ‘overlapped’.
Despite becoming World Champion and helping secure the Constructors Championship for Brawn GP, Button decided to join McLaren and form a British Dream Team with Lewis Hamilton. Soon after Button left rumors began to surface that Schumacher was going to replace him 4 years after he hung up his helmet.
The news was finally confirmed on Wednesday that the 40-year-old will team up with fellow German Nico Rosberg next year.
Schumacher will be reunited with team chief Ross Brawn, who helped him to his 7 drivers’ crowns with Benetton (1994 & ’95) and Ferrari (2000-04).
However, Brawn denied that Mercedes GP wanted to get rid of Button so that they could sign the 7-time World Champion.
Brawn said:
“I don’t think that is the case. We made a good effort to try to find a solution with Jenson and it didn’t work out. Jenson made his decision in the end not to stay. We made a big effort to keep him but it wasn’t possible in the end.
“It overlapped to be honest. I had a loyalty to Jenson but when that started to look difficult I started talking to Michael, and things developed from there.
“Michael and I kept very close over the years and I saw from his disappointment over the summer, when he couldn’t drive a Ferrari, how much passion he still has for the sport. We’re incredibly excited now about the prospect of Michael being part of the team”
So it’s Britain vs. Germany
Hamilton & Button vs. Schumacher & Rosberg
