Jenson Button joins Mclaren and will be driving alongside Lewis Hamilton

Jenson Button to race for McLaren in 2010

McLaren announced the signing of World Champion Jenson Button in a multi-year contract which will see partners in 2008, defending champion Lewis Hamilton in the coming period. This is the first connection of two British world champion Graham Hill Jim Clark and Lotus in 1968.

The news follows speculation over the coming weeks with 2009 button Brawn team Grand Prix, the driver line-up in 2010 to be confirmed after the acquisition by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes engine supplier earlier this week.

"It's always a difficult decision to abandon a team if they had so many things, but makes life is all about the challenge - and, more importantly, it is difficult for me," said Button, who is the former team had against the various forms since 2003.

"Thus, although he won the championship with Brawn Grand Prix last year and I will never forget what we always ensure that we always want new challenges. Thus, so decided to join the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ".

Opinion on the "signature" says the boss of McLaren, Martin Whitmarsh: "Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is delighted to welcome Jenson to our team. It has always been our policy to employ the two best drivers - and Jenson Button and Lewis believe that not only match the fastest network in 2010, but the two most complete, professional and dedicated drivers in Formula One. "

Despite reports that a major obstacle had to pay in any negotiations with the button Brawn, Whitmarsh said his move to McLaren-Mercedes Exclusively for his desire to remain in a Match Made Car world champion folding, with six victories to season.

"I want to clarify that this decision Jenson us is justified in any way by money," he said. "We will not pay him as if he could be somewhere else, and this is a reflection of faith in Jenson Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, but the desire and ambition of the phenomenal results achieved during the period 2009 to build.

Hamilton in 2010 for its fourth season with the McLaren brand, with the third button on the new teammates yet.

"I know, Jenson, and will come together very well," he said. "We both want our team to really be successful. While we push each other hard, I am sure that very soon we will have a great partnership. This is an excellent rider and very well controlled and has a real depth of knowledge and experience.

"I think we complement each other very well, and our cooperation will be the best team accordingly. So I am very happy with the match next to a fellow world champion British, and I think we can mobilize to Mercedes McLaren - best team for the network. "

For its part, has a button that was pleased to join forces with a virtual team.

"Can I help you, but the history of this group is phenomenal hit," he said. "McLaren is a great sport and their successes and the list of past champions reads like a who's who of Formula One - Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, and of course my new team-mate Lewis Hamilton. I followed the McLaren team, since I was a child, and finally feels incredible part of it.

"It's also a great pleasure for the driver to join a British colleague of foreground. Lewis received an incredible amount of success in a very short time, and it is a wonderfully talented rider who has won every Formula One. I'm sure there is much we can learn from each other, and I am delighted to move forward, combined with the expertise of the team. "

The news marks the end of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Heikki Kovalainen career after two seasons as teammate Hamilton. The Finn, 12 final table of the pilot in 2009, looking back seven positions of Hamilton is now located elsewhere for the 2010th

"I would like to thank Heikki for the offer unconditional in the past two years," said Whitmarsh. "In addition to being very fast, Heikki was still a great personality that everyone we will miss you very much. It goes without saying that we wish him the best and would be happy if it was a good initiative for the year 2010. "