Report: Button filed legal proceedings against Mercedes
Jenson Button was forced to file legal proceedings against his former team after being refused one of the championship-winning chassis he was owed from the 2009 season, the Mail on Sunday reports.
Button, now at McLaren, was persuaded to take a pay-cut after Brawn agreed a takeover with Honda. However, the new contract contained a new clause, which stated that if he won the world championship he could keep one of the chassis used in his winning season.
The clause read: “In the event that the driver wins the driver championship at any time during the term, the company shall transfer the ownership of one chassis of the type driven during that winning season.”
The Englishman went on to win the drivers’ championship in Brawn’s sole season before becoming Mercedes, and subsequently, demanded the transfer of one of the BGP001′s.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Mercedes refused to hand over one of the six BGP001 chassis used during the 2009 season. In an email sent to Button in January from Mercedes (formerly Brawn GP), they group claimed there were “no spare 2009 chassis as limited quantities were manufactured for cost reasons.”
Mercedes made an open offer to Button after the refusal. The German squad said they would make a replica of the BGP001 car as a peace-offering. The reigning champion immediately refused the counter-offer as it would lack the “special and unique” value of one of the cars he claimed his maiden world title with.
Button’s management team, JB Next BV, consequently filed legal action in April against Mercedes on the grounds of breach of contract.
Mercedes, keen to avoid a prolonged court-case, reluctantly agreed to pass on a BGP001 to Button. All parties are now agreed that the matter is closed.
“We have arrived at an amicable resolution, and so there will no longer be any court action over this,” Button’s spokesman said.
