'Chocolate' Button admits to Sauber visit

Button was spotted visiting the factory of the team that finished fourth in last year's constructors' championship. He came up with an original excuse of what he was doing there, however...

"I was very low on chocolate at home and thought I'd better go and get some," he quipped.

Button is highly likely to lose his Renault seat to Spaniard Fernando Alonso next year, and is currently investigating all options, including Jaguar and British American Racing.

"There's nothing to be worried about," Button stressed at Magny-Cours today (Thursday). "It's going to be positive for me whether it's here, there or wherever. In the next few days we should know where we are. There are other very good options out there, so I'm not worried or upset."

Sources close to Sauber, however, suggest that the post-race debrief at the British Grand Prix was a rather heated affair, with criticism of both Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa. Heidfeld finished sixth, but was off the pace in the early stages, while Massa spun so many times he claimed it gave him a headache.

Heidfeld is in the second season of a three-year contract with the team but has been touted as a possible Toyota driver next year, while Peter Sauber is understood to have an option on Massa that can be exercised at any time up to the end of August.

Sauber has been offered Button's services before. A year ago, he was believed to have mixed feelings about dealing with his management, the Robertsons - who then managed Button as well as Kimi Raikkonen - having lost the Finn to McLaren. Now, Button has different management and the team are apparently more receptive.

On form judged over the past couple of seasons, Sauber could well offer Button the most competitive ride for a couple of seasons prior to a possible return to Williams, where he was a match for Ralf Schumacher towards the end of the 2000 season.