Brawn exit is a bonus: Button

F1: The rest of the Formula One field would benefit if Ross Brawn's departure from Mercedes goes ahead, according to 2009 world champion Jenson Button.

Mercedes declined to comment on reports that claimed Brawn would leave after the season finale in Brazil, but the team's non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, as well as driver Lewis Hamilton, have said they would like to continue their association with the Briton.

Button, who left Brawn GP to join McLaren for the 2010 season, said: "It would be a loss to the team he was working for," Button said when asked if the sport would suffer without Brawn.

"It is not a loss for the rest of us, it is actually a good thing. Ross is a great team leader and he is very strong. He is a very confident individual and I think everyone needs someone like Ross in their team.

"I'm surprised to see he is leaving, although I'm sure there are reasons for that, but it is difficult to think what they are."

MOORE TO MACK ATTACK

BOXING: Matthew 'Mack The Knife' Macklin will return to action in the US before the end of the year with a familiar face in his corner.

Macklin faces the world rated Willie Nelson in Atlantic City on December 7 in a fight that will be broadcast live by HBO.

Leading his corner on the night will be former opponent Jamie Moore as the duo link up over seven years on from their epic British title duel back in 2006.

FINALS CAST CONFIRMED

TENNIS: Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet booked the final two spots for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London next week after Milos Raonic lost to Tomas Berdych at the Paris Masters.

Raonic was the last remaining player who could have made a late move into the line-up for the season-ending tournament, which features the top eight players of the year – minus the injured Andy Murray.

But Raonic went down 7-6 (15/13) 6-4 in the third round.

RASCH JOINS TEAM SKY

CYCLING: Team Sky have announced Norwegian rider Gabriel Rasch will join their technical staff as a sports director next year.

Rasch, 37, said yesterday he intends to compete in the early-season road race Classics before turning his full attention to his new role with the British team.

Rasch said: "I'd always hoped to become a sports director once my riding days had come to a close and this is a big chance for me to do what I'd love to."