Mc hanging on to Button ?

Brawn may be 99 percent sure of securing Jenson Button's services for next season, however, reports claim the deal hinges on Mercedes buying in, which would give the team the money they need.

Button may have won the World title for Brawn GP in Ross Brawn's first season as a Formula One team owner but limited funds have resulted in the team failing to secure his signature for next year's Championship.

The newly-crowned F1 Champion is reportedly wanting to return to the EU 8million-a-year he was earning before taking a EU 5million pay cut when former team owners Honda pulled out last December.

And although the team are keen to hold onto the Brit, Brawn admits finances are the sticking point in contract negotiations.

"Jenson has a contract with us. But that contract is not the salary of a World Champion, not the salary of a team that is in a much stronger position than it was 10 months ago," he said.

"We're working with Jenson to find a balance between what we can afford and what he feels is fair for his status and the contribution he can make in the future."

Finances, though, are in general a sore point for Brawn GP.

'They have used up all, or nearly all, of theEU120m Honda left them with when they handed over ownership to Ross Brawn in March. That has been spent on running costs, development of this and next year's cars and laying off 200 staff,' claims the Daily Mail.

'Even with Virgin's name plastered over the car all season at a rate of 150,000 per race, it has yielded only EU 2.5m if, as many doubt, the arrangement has been paid up in full.'

However, Virgin are set to walk at the end of the season, swapping their allegiance to newbies, Manor GP, while as yet rumours of a new title sponsor for Brawn GP have not been confirmed by the team.

But there is talk of Mercedes buying in, increasing their role from engine supplier to part owner.

The German carmaker, who currently owns a 40 percent stake in McLaren, are reported to be wanting a '75 percent share in Brawn', which would provide the team with the funds needed to secure Button's signature.

The newspaper added that 'there remains a great deal of negotiation to be carried out. It is also uncertain whether Mercedes, at boardroom level, support the idea of spending extra money on Formula One when the car industry is struggling in the global recession.'

And should Merc opt out of their Brawn plans, they would also walk Button over to McLaren...