Jenson Button would like to join Ferrari in 2013

After the saga of Mark Webber’s contract extension, which concluded in Belgium, it’s now the negotiations surrounding Jenson Button’s future at McLaren-Mercedes that are making headlines, when Kimi Räikkönen isn’t visiting the Williams factory, of course.

Indeed, for several months, negotiations between the Briton and his team for the renewal of his contract seem to have stalled. Some sources had claimed that the British Grand Prix would be the setting for an announcement, but it is evident, as autumn approaches, that the Briton is still not officially at the wheel of the future MP4-27. Some claim that this delay is due to the demands of the 2009 World Champion to have fewer promotional days – like his teammate – but when asked by the BBC, Martin Whitmarsh responded cryptically: “It’s not just about that.”

According to Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio in the Jornal da Tarde, Jenson Button would actually only like to extend his contract for one more season, while his team is aiming for a longer-term deal. The journalist asserts, “Button is interested in Ferrari and Ferrari is interested in him.” He continues, “Button has the right profile for a Ferrari driver: fast, able to cohabit with Fernando Alonso, and regularly among the fastest. He also has Alonso’s support.”

This isn’t the first time the McLaren driver has been linked to a future in red, with Massa having been, for some time now, on a potential exit path by 2013. Last June, the infamous and controversial newspaper News of the World reported statements from one of its sources: « There have been a lot of discussions within the Ferrari team about Button. They have already tried to see if he would be available. »

It had only taken a statement from Button, a few weeks earlier, in the Guardian where he stated that there were three teams he had always wanted to race for as a child: Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams, to ignite the rumor mill. However, the Briton has tried several times to downplay the significance of his words: That doesn’t mean you have to drive for Ferrari to fulfill your childhood dreams because, as you grow up, things change. I’m happy, and if I can win a championship with McLaren, I would be even happier.

On his side, Martin Whitmarsh, team director of McLaren, wants to be patient: “We are just talking about it. I think the right thing to do is to discuss it quietly. I’m sure we will find a way to work together for the years to come, it is undeniably my wish and I hope it is Jenson’s as well.”

Jenson Button thus becomes the holder of the keys to the transfer market, not only for 2012 but also for 2013. It seems difficult to imagine McLaren extending the contract of the recent Hungarian Grand Prix winner for another season just to see him move to their historic rival in 2013. By eyeing Felipe Massa’s seat for 2013 – which is currently just a rumor – Jenson Button might be forced to find another team in 2012. A seat would therefore become available as early as the next season at the Woking team, but, as a result, Sergio Perez – and to a lesser extent Jules Bianchi – could say goodbye to a seat at Ferrari in 2013, for which they seemed to be in pole position, especially after their recent tests for the Scuderia.

The British driver, however, does not fit the profile of the future Scuderia driver, recently outlined by Stefano Domenicali: For the future of Ferrari, I think the right combination would be that of an experienced and seasoned driver [note: Alonso has extended his contract until 2016] combined with a young driver of great talent and potential. However, there is no doubt that if a driver of Button’s caliber were to knock on Maranello’s door for 2013, the Italian team would reconsider some of its recruitment criteria.