( CNN ) -- Jenson Button has emerged a surprise contender to join Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in what would be an exciting partnership for the 2010 season . Jenson Button could join Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in an exciting partnership for the 2010 season . Button has not yet agreed a new contract with Brawn and McLaren are interested having struggled to land first choice Kimi Raikkonen . McLaren team principal , Martin Whitmarsh refused to rule out a move for Button and create and all-British pairing at the manufacturer . Asked by British newspaper Daily Mail whether there had been talks between McLaren and Button 's representatives Whitmarsh said : `` We 've talked to a number of drivers . It would n't be appropriate to say more than that . `` We 'll hire the two best drivers available to us as we always have . '' The world champion 's manager Richard Goddard also refused to comment on whether he had held talks with McLaren to increase speculation . Button , meanwhile , made a return to Brawn UK headquarters in Brackley and paid tribute to the staff behind his title-winning success . `` I 'm really here to say a massive well done and thank you to everyone at the team . We 've worked so hard for these achievements for so many years , '' Button told the Formula One official Web site . `` Some of us were here from the beginning back in 1998 and I arrived halfway through our journey in 2003 but everyone has put so much work in . `` I know that there have been a lot of very difficult times and over the winter there were times when we did n't think that we would be here at all . `` It 's very sad that not everyone can be here who worked on this fantastic car . But the team had to become smaller to continue and together we produced a car that has been exceptional this season . `` To be able to achieve the constructors ' and the drivers ' championships in our first year , especially after such a difficult winter , is an amazing achievement . It 's been a roller coaster of emotions . `` The first few races were magnificent . It looked like it was a walk in the park but it really was n't . Then we had some difficult races , especially myself but also as a team where we struggled . But we fought back hard and when we needed to improve the car , you guys did it . ''
Jenson Button has emerged as a contender to join Lewis Hamilton at McLaren . Button is out of contract with Brawn at has yet to sign a new deal with them . Team principal Martin Whitmarsh refused to rule out a move for Button . Button paid tribute to Brawn 's staff at their headquarters in the United Kingdom .