Barrichello not asked to be no. 2

(GMM) Jenson Button on Saturday played down rumors the Brawn team has moved towards installing him as the 'number 1' driver for the remainder of 2009.

The Briton is 24 points clear of his teammate in the championship, and speculation in Hungary is that Ross Brawn has now stepped in to ask Rubens Barrichello to support Button's title bid for the last eight races of the season.

"Jeez, I don't think Rubens would do that, do you?" Button, 29, replied, according to BBC Sport. "No, it's definitely not the case."

After the Spanish grand prix in May, 37-year-old Barrichello hit out at suspected favoritism towards Button, and two weeks ago in Germany he once again blamed the team for his drop from the lead to sixth place.

But Button insists: "We're free to race, as every team in F1 should be. There are two drivers in the team, and you shouldn't be working for each other.

"We've both got a chance of winning the championship, or fighting for it, so why should one driver help the other?" he added.