Jenson Button has said it will be the power of the car, and not the size of pay-packet, which will steer his decision about which team he drives for next season.

The newly crowned world champion — back in Britain after clinching his maiden world title at Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix — is poised to open negotiations with his Brawn GP team over a new deal which could see his wages of £3million a year doubled or even trebled.

That would still see him lag behind the big earners such as Lewis Hamilton, reported to be on at least £10m a season at McLaren, or Fernando Alonso who whas been lured to Ferrari on a £20m-a-year contract. But Button insisted that he is eager to stay with the team who have turned him into a champion.

“I'm not that expensive, not compared to some drivers,” he said. “The most important thing in my career has always been to be in a great car, a competitive car, and this year is the first year I've really been in that position.

“I want to continue achieving in the sport. I'm not one of those drivers who is going to be looking for a new team who can pay me a big amount of money. That's not what I'm about. I want to go and win races again. I want to be with Brawn.”

Button said it had always been his and the team's intention to wait until after the drivers' and constructors' titles were decided before sitting down to discuss a new deal.

He said: “That was the right thing to do and now we can discuss next season. I'm going to put a bit of pressure on them, that's for sure.”

The 29-year-old certainly has a strong negotiating position. Not only is he now world champion, he can also point out that he agreed to a pay-cut of £5m when the Brawn GP team arose from the ashes of the now defunct Honda team last winter.

Button added: “I've experienced so much with this team. I joined it in 2003 when it was under another name and a lot has changed since then.
We've been through some very difficult times and some fantastic times. Now we've achieved our goal, to be world champions and we're going to enjoy it.

“Then we'll start talking about next season. You always want more. You always want to achieve greater things and that's why I want to be with Brawn next season.”

Team owner Ross Brawn today moved to allay any fears Button might have about the competitiveness of the team's cars next season.
The early advantage the Brawn cars enjoyed this year had evaporated by the middle of the season, but Brawn said: “We've got a good budget for next year. The finance is in place, and we started on next year's car quite a long time ago. It will be tough. But there is so much confidence in the team from what has happened this season, and that will make a big difference. I'm quietly confident.”

Button's first port of call today after landing back from Brazil was the Bluewater shopping centre at Greenhithe in Kent where he met hundreds of his fans at a sponsors' event.

And he told the crowd that he was gearing up for a battle of Britain next season after 2008 champion Hamilton vowed to win back his crown.

No British driver has ever won back-to-back titles and Button said: “It's going to be difficult but it is every driver's aim, and it will be my aim next season. If Lewis and myself are in competitive cars next year it is going to be very exciting for the British public.

“Having two British world champions back-to-back hasn't happened in 40 years and we should be very proud of the work that has been put into the sport from around the country, be it by drivers, mechanics or engineers. We've produced some fantastic talent we should be very proud of ourselves.”