Motor racing-Button visits McLaren factory

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Jenson Button visited McLaren on Friday, fuelling speculation he could be lining up a switch from Brawn to become Lewis Hamilton's team mate next season.

"Having just landed at Heathrow (airport), Jenson made a small detour to Woking to say a quick hello," a McLaren spokesman said.

He confirmed the 29-year-old Briton, who was given a guided tour of the factory, met McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

Button is out of contract with Mercedes-powered champions Brawn, who are keen to retain him but not at any price.

Team boss Ross Brawn said earlier this week the chances of a deal being done were 99 percent, hinting also the team might give the driver more scope to benefit from personal sponsorship.

"We can offer a higher proportion of driver freedom and that will probably be the route we will go," he said.

Button took a significant pay cut, around 5 million pounds ($8.37 million) according to some media reports, to stay with Brawn this year after their predecessors Honda pulled out last December.

Although driver salaries are coming down as teams cut costs, Button wants his pay restored to something more appropriate to a world champion -- likely to be in the region of 8 million pounds.