The percentage-chance that Jenson Button will stay at Brawn in 2010 has dropped, team chief executive Nick Fry has admitted. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Hamilton Unsure Of 2010 Teammate: Lewis Hamilton on Friday repeated his claim that he would not mind if he has to wear the number 2 on his McLaren car next year. Amid Jenson Button's disagreement with Brawn about the size of his 2010 retainer, Hamilton said recently that he would welcome his countryman to the Woking based team. The likelihood of a McLaren switch for Button, 29, has grown even more in recent days, as McLaren tosses up between signing the very expensive Kimi Raikkonen, or the 2009 world champion at half the price. "I've heard the rumors but the team haven't decided anything and they haven't told me anything," Hamilton told reporters in Abu Dhabi. "So I'm sitting back and waiting to see what happens. I don't have any preference, if I'm honest." Hamilton finished the day/night practice session at the new Yas Marina circuit on Friday evening with the second fastest time, behind his friend and current teammate Heikki Kovalainen, who is expected to lose his seat after this event. "I've such a strong relationship with Heikki, I really do think he is a great guy and a great driver and I'm happy with him being my teammate," said Hamilton. "If things change it will be unfortunate in some ways, but whoever comes I'll welcome them and hopefully they will help us win world championships.”

Nakajima Admits 2010 Williams Seat Not Likely: Kazuki Nakajima has acknowledged that Abu Dhabi is almost certainly his last Grand Prix for Williams. The 24-year-old Japanese joined the British team two years ago with the backing of Toyota, but Williams is set to revert to Cosworth power for the 2010 season. It is believed Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will be revealed as the Grove team's new driver lineup on Monday, leaving Nakajima looking for a seat. Asked how likely it is that he will still be racing a Williams next March, Nakajima answered: "I think very low. This is probably my last race for the team." Asked what his chances are of finding a drive elsewhere, the veteran of 35 races and 9 points told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "It's hard to say. All I can say is we are talking with some new teams and some current teams." And asked when he expects to know the outcome of those talks, Nakajima answered: "No idea. It may well take some time."

Chance Of New Button Deal Now '80 Percent': The percentage-chance that Jenson Button will stay at Brawn in 2010 has dropped, team chief executive Nick Fry has admitted. Amid reports the parties are at odds over the size of the new world champion's retainer, boss Ross Brawn said recently that the chance of Button staying put was nonetheless "99 per cent". But in an interview with the BBC on Friday, Fry was also talking numbers. "I'm pretty confident he will stay with the team -- I'm 80 percent certain," he said. 29-year-old Button, meanwhile, said in Abu Dhabi that he would not shy away from a high profile pairing with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in 2010. And he insisted: "I wouldn't put a percentage on anything."

Horner Amazed Button Still On Driver Market: Christian Horner has expressed surprise that, two weeks after he clinched the world championship, Jenson Button is still on the market for a team to drive for in 2010. Horner is boss of the Red Bull team, whose Sebastian Vettel was beaten to the drivers' title by 29-year-old Button last time out in Brazil. Briton Button and Brawn are at odds over the size of his retainer for next year, which has reportedly sparked the interest of the McLaren team. McLaren was earlier thought keen to snap up the available Kimi Raikkonen, but the Finn's asking price is at least double the amount Button is demanding from his reluctant Brawn chiefs. "I just find it staggering he's won the world championship and had a brilliant year and he hasn't been signed up for next year," Horner told BBC television on Friday when asked about Button's contract standoff. "If I was Brawn, I'd get off the fence pretty quickly because he's a pretty attractive proposition. I wouldn't hang about too long if I were them," he added.