Thursday 28th July 2005

F1's Button wants to stay at BAR

British driver says that Williams 'should understand'

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Button's drive for '06?

A row is brewing in F1 -- when isn't there? -- over Jenson Button's contract, as the British driver has issued a statement about why he now wants to stay with BAR-Honda, his current team. This follows a legal row last year in which Button wanted to head for Williams, seeing it as a better bet for his championship chances.

The British driver, tipped by many for the top, is currently at BAR, where he is contracted to stay until next season, when he appears to be legally bound to go to Williams. Which hasn't been having a good year.

Button said that "Frank Williams needs to understand my desire to stay at BAR", according to Autosport magazine. "The BAR team is my best chance of becoming Britain's next world champion. For me, the best thing is to stay with BAR, not just in short term."

Williams maintains that it has a deal with Button, which Autosport understands was finalised last year after the FIA-recognised Contracts Recognition Board decreed Button should stay with BAR Honda in 2005. At that time, Button wanted to switch from BAR to Williams, but Honda has since bought 45 per cent of the BAR team and dramatically improved its F1 budget, while Wiliiams is almost certainly without a manufacturer engine deal for 2006 following BMW's decision to buy Sauber. 

Sir Frank Williams said he has every intention of enforcing the arrangement to acquire Button: "We do have an existing contract with Jenson for 2006 and fully expect him to arrive at Williams in the due period of time."   

But Button says that "everything has changed" from this time last year, when he wanted to leave BAR for Williams. He told Autosport he had "great respect" for Sir Frank and hoped that the two of them could behave like adults over the affair.

"I'll certainly be able to look him in the eye when I see him in the paddock," Button told Autosport. "We have quite a lot of history together, going back to before 2000, so we need to be adult about it and understand the situation. I can understand Williams's situation, but Frank has to understand mine as well. To be competitive next year any team has to be with a manufacturer that is fully involved. The position has changed a lot with Williams from last year. A racing driver's career is short, so you have to make the best you can of it."  

 

[Joe911]

Who was the (not so) smart cookie that negotiated JB's contract with Williams those many years ago?
Seems now, like it was pretty short-sighted to tie him up for such a long time at what would hopefully be the period leading to the peak of his career?
Who is JB's manager - it's not his dad is it?

[Joe911]

JonRB said:

Having said that, I'll say one thing about Jensen. On the face of it (and by that I mean the Public face that mere mortals like myself see), he does appear to have knuckled down and got on with working professionally with a team that he made it quite clear he didn't want to drive for at the end of last season. I'm sure that if the same happens again and he is forced to move to Williams then he will do likewise.

It's much easier to knuckle down with a team that actually ain't that bad after all - than it is with one that isn't really going anywhere at the moment (nad is looking worse for next year)!

[Joe911]

Gruffy said:

Contract or not, it is impossible to force him to work for WIlliams. Some UK law that prevents people being forced to work for companies they don't want to. JB will be wearing Lucky Strike next year.

If that were the case then how come he's not at Williams this year?

[Joe911]

PhilboSE said:

I'm afraid it *is* so. You can't "get out" of a contract. Both parties can agree to terminate the contract - if they can agree liabilities and any appropriate compensation.

Is it not that case that a contract can only be enforced if it is deemed to be "fair and reasonable" (in the view of a court) and presumably not infringing on someones human rights etc. etc.
Not that I'm suggesting that would apply in JB's case.

[Joe911]

On radio 4 this morning they said that "it cost Button £17m" to get out of Williams, and he gets paid £10m.
Why it would "cost Button" I'm not sure - I would assume BAR paid.

BBC main news site is more vague about the wonga ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4262010.stm