It must have been a confusing month for Jenson Button.  Aside from his whirlwind win at the Canadian Grand Prix the 2009 world champion has hit the headlines as he apparently sits in the middle of a tug of war between McLaren and Ferrari, according to media reports.

There have been mixed signals coming from all parties involved over the past seven days. Even earlier this season McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh suggested Button could stay with the team for “another five years” little before the driver openly flirted with Ferrari by expressing his desire to race for the Scuderia one day.

Then come Button’s latest claims that he didn’t want to sign a long-term deal as he wasn’t happy with the thought of being tied down in what will likely be the final years of his career – only McLaren to reportedly offer him a new contract apparently after hearing the news that Ferrari were interested in bringing him to the team as a replacement.

Confused? I certainly am. While a lot of the speculation can be put down to media speculation (or “silly season” as Ferrari branded it when responding to the Button rumours) there is also an element of manoeuvring on the part of the Button camp at least.

The 31-year-old most likely has at most four years of racing at the top level left in him and having driven for two of the most famous teams on the grid – McLaren and Williams – the chance to complete the set and turn out for Ferrari may be too tempting to refuse.

“As yet Button hasn’t come out and disputed the link with Ferrari as that would weaken his position with McLaren in negotiations over a new deal with the team – especially with his current contract ending in 2012 if the team (as expected) take up the option on him.”

McLaren for their part are unlikely to let a driver who has embedded so well into the ethos at the Woking-based team waltz into the arms of their rivals – and the over-riding mood is that he will stay with his current team.  But news his relationship with Lewis Hamilton isn’t quite as rosy as McLaren and particularly sponsors Vodafone portray shows there is quite a lot going on behind the scenes

As yet Button hasn’t come out and disputed the link with Ferrari as that would weaken his position with McLaren in negotiations over a new deal with the team – especially with his current contract ending in 2012 if the team (as expected) take up the option on him.

Of course the biggest sticking point that would halt a move to Ferrari is the presence of Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard will no doubt be reluctant to have a driver alongside him that could push him in the same manner that Hamilton did at McLaren in 2007, while Button will be unwilling to play second fiddle.

For now Button appears content to let the talking and speculation go on while he considers his options – and he will almost certainly stay with McLaren until the end of next season.

But playing footsie with Ferrari will have done his cause no harm- and keeping Ferrari on the back burner for now may turn out to be a wise move.

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