Aha..... I thought it seemed far too easy... and frankly, I question the sanity of Jenson Button to return to Williams.... but... it may also mean that Button does not trust BAR to complete the turned around that seemed almost secured.... will the net winner be Takuma Sato ? or even... Jarno Trulli [assuming he makes the move to BAR] what about Giancarlo Fiscichella ? this is getting ever more interesting.....
BAR Threaten Legal Battle over Button
Thursday August 5th, 2004
BAR-Honda are threatening with legal action to stop Jenson Button from leaving the team at the end of this season and re-joining Williams-BMW, according to Britan's The Times newspaper.
Williams made a surprise announcement tonight that Briton Button, who made his F1 debut with the team in 2000, will make a return to the team next season, driving alongside Australian Mark Webber.
According to the newspaper, Button exercised a get-out clause in his contract with BAR, his management, "Essentially Sport", stating today that they question Honda's long term commitment - which would release Button from his existing contract.
However, it now seems Button's current employers BAR were no less surprised by the announcement and believe they retain first rights on the young star's services next season. Furthermore, BAR team chief David Richards said they plan to seek legal action against the move.
"To be treated like this is dumbfounding," Richards told The Times, also adding he had not seen or talked to Button since the German Grand Prix, 12 days ago.
"We are all utterly shaken," Richards added. "I have got 400 people in this factory who have worked their socks off night and day and then the guy who gets all the credit and drinks the champagne turns around and ditches them.
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"I cannot believe that Jenson wants to leave. There is a hidden agenda here somewhere and we are determined this is not going to happen. Somebody has been looking for a get-out clause because there is absolutely no doubt Honda are committed. Honda only announced they were renewing and extending their contract with us before the race in Germany, so why should there be a doubt?
"We believe we can make Jenson Button a World Champion and we, with Honda, have proved this year that we are going in the right direction and we thought we were all going together. Perhaps Jenson has been led in another direction - down the garden path. I can only hope that I can talk to him and make sense of what is going on."
Button joined BAR last year after two years with Benetton/Renault. The Briton currently lies third in the 2004 World Drivers Championship, behind the Ferrari drivers. |
