Button takes pay cut to join McLaren

Nov 19, 2009 - 9:19 PM LONDON(AP) -- Formula One champion Jenson Button admitted Thursday he took a pay cut to join McLaren and team with 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton.

"I am actually earning less than I would have been at Brawn, so it's not about the money and everybody involved knows that is not the case. It's because it's something new," Button told BBC Radio.

Button said he was sad to leave the team but happy to join fellow British driver Hamilton, even though they will remain rivals.

"I knew it would be a challenge to go up against Lewis in his environment and my goal since I was eight years old was to win the world championship," Button said. "I've done that now and I feel in need of something else, a new challenge."

Button had won only one grand prix before capturing the 2009 title in a Brawn car. He finished 11 points ahead of Red Bull's Sebastien Vettel of Germany.