F1: Button Signs for Williams!

Dave Baumann

Dave Baumann

Gamerscore Wh...
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Well, kinda shocked to hear on the radio that due to what sounds like possibly a simple clerical issue, the extra 2 year option that BAR had on Button has been missed and Williams have now swooped in and signed Button for 2004 and 2005!

Button and Webber should a strong be line-up for Williams next year, after seeming like they were in pretty poos shape driver wise after Ralf and Montoya leaving.
 
IIRC, Button is actually contracted to Williams, but they've sub-contracted him out to other teams. They effectively rented him out to Benneton/Renault and then BAR. I'm pretty surprised given how well Button was doing with BAR, and how mediocre Williams is in comparison.
 
DA-Y-AMN!! Didn't see that one coming, not by a longshot!

Wonder if it's the right move, though. Williams has been trounced by BAR this year and Button was relatively unthreatened by his teammate as it was. Williams has to shape up pretty damn well if they're going to capitalise on this talent base, and shifting in two new drivers in a build-up phase can't really help, I'd imagine.
 
I'm still of the opinion that whatever happens, Ferrari, Williams and McLaren are the only teams that are ever going to be able to mount consistent championship challenges. Its also fairly cyclical in nature - one or two will be on the rise while one or two is on the fall, so you get a few years of competition from them and then a few years of domination. At the moment Ferrari is at the domination, Mclaren have been at their low ebb, but on an uptick and I'd expect Williams to be on the upward climb next year.

I think the likes of BAR and Renault have looked good purely becuase McLaren and Williams are in their down period - realistically neither of them have had any hope of consistently challenging Ferrari.
 
Well, I'm a little more open to the idea that a new team can reach the top and stay there. It's true that there's been a hegemony by the big three for soon almost 20 years, but I'm imagining I see signs that it can be broken. Well it was already in 1994-95, by the then comparatively shoe-string budgeted Benneton. When Schu left with Brawn, Byrne et.al. they didn't stay there obviously, but they did make it to the top.

I think also that the designer talent like Mike Gascoyne seems to be more inclined to move around than they used to be. Quite a few Ferrari engineers have crossed over to other teams lately, even.
 
Dave .. Honda and then Renault engines were the engines to have in the late 80's and early 90's. I can't see why they can't start producing again.

Mercedes engines these last couple of years have really been woeful but hey .. it's starting to look good again(or is it?).

BMW have always had the most powerful engine .. or that is until this year where the rumours say Toyota has the most powerful engine now.

All that goes out the window though with the new engine rules for next year. The engine has to last 2 races. Seeing as Ferrari have the most consistent engine atm, I have to think that they'll carry on into next year. From what I understand Ferrari have said that they will race this years engine next year too.

US
 
Unknown Soldier said:
Dave .. Honda and then Renault engines were the engines to have in the late 80's and early 90's. I can't see why they can't start producing again.

Mercedes engines these last couple of years have really been woeful but hey .. it's starting to look good again(or is it?).

BMW have always had the most powerful engine .. or that is until this year where the rumours say Toyota has the most powerful engine now.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that Honda and Ferrari is ahead in the engine game aswell.

Cheers
Gubbi
 
BAR statement on Jenson Button

Following reports yesterday that BAR Honda's lead driver Jenson Button is leaving to join the Williams team in 2005, BAR Team Principal David Richards has made the following statement:

"We are absolutely astounded to hear that Jenson thinks that he is leaving BAR for Williams next season. Neither myself, nor any other member of the BAR team, has been contacted by Jenson to discuss this matter."

"Jenson is under contract with BAR for 2005, since we took up an option on his services only last month. At no time during the last few months has Jenson expressed anything other than his desire to continue working with BAR to achieve our collective goal of winning the World Championship."

Jenson Button joined BAR in 2003 from Renault and has seen his career transformed as a result. During the four and a half seasons of his F1 career he has scored 106 points, of which 78 have been in the last year and a half with BAR. In 2004 Button took his first F1 podium and he is currently lying third in the drivers' championship.

At the German Grand Prix, 23 July 2004, Honda confirmed their long- term commitment to BAR announcing the extension of their existing contract to at least 2007, with an even greater commitment of engineering resources. Their track record of 11 F1 World Championships clearly places them in an outstanding position to provide the resources to take the team and Button to the very top.

Richards continues: "It is our intention to enforce our current contractual position with Jenson. My duty is to the 400- strong workforce which has worked tirelessly over the past two seasons to give Jenson the car he has today; and to our partners, whose unfailing support and commitment to the team has contributed to the solid structure we now have in place."

"Unfortunately this is now a matter for the lawyers and I have every confidence that the legal process will confirm that yesterday's announcement has not only been premature but also invalid."

News Source: http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/040806122325.shtml]F1 Racing Live[/url]
 
Deepak said:
Where is MS going?? ;)
Click to expand...

I expect him to retire with Ferrari. It's the best for him. We're the best for him. We're the best. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)


Right, now, quick question.

Button signed by Williams. For next year you mean? Or is he going to continue his championship under a new team? That would be weird...
 
Button's change of team assuming it survives the legal challenge is for next season.
Either way he will finish this season at BAR.[/quote]
 
Just read from a finnish news site that Mika Häkkinen has confirmed he is negotiating about returning to F1

"There's no smoke without fire", he said.

He didn't specify which team he was negotiating with but there are rumored to be two options: Bar or Williams.
 
Mika Hakkinen linked to BAR Honda

Mika Hakkinen and BAR Honda have held initial discussions regarding a possible racing return for the 1998 and 1999 World Champion according to French AFP sources.

The news broke today, less than 24-hours after BMW Williams announced that current BAR driver Jenson Button is to join their team in 2005, an announcement very much disputed by BAR’s boss Dave Richards.

The Hakkinen link to BAR was revealed today on his visit to Jyvaskyla during the Finnish World Rally Championship event. Rumour circulating at the rally service park is that he has already signed a contract with the team.

"There is no smoke without fire," Hakkinen told Finnish Television. "I don't want to say more at the moment. Suffice to say the discussions with BAR are particularly interesting."

Should Williams achieve their aim and Button does move to the team for next season, the seat alongside Takuma Sato is up for grabs. Mika Hakkinen joins the list of many drivers, including test driver Anthony Davidson, who would love a shot at driving for BAR Honda.

News Source: http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/040806200258.shtml]F1 Racing Live[/url]
 
I read a suggestion that Honda may be in the process of buying BAR. Do you think that is the loop hole that allowed Jenson to leave ?
 
No, the loophole was that, although Honda resigned they Honda left a clause in saying they could pull out at any time if they had concerns over the future of the team (the main concern being that its current owned by BAT and Tabacco companies are being banned from F1 soon hence BAT are looking to pull out and sell the team). AFAIK Jnesons contract says that if there were any concerns over the engine supply then he could come out of BAR's 2005 option, and because Honda can pull out at any time that would trigger that clause.

Whats interesting is that, evidently, this has been going on for some weeks now, behind closed doors - the only reason it came out on Thursday was because Frank Willaims got word that Dave Richards (BAR) was leaking the story to the Times. As soon as Frank got work of that he phoned up Radio Five Live to get in there first. So at the moment its looking like Dave Richards is the one that is causing the controvasy over the issue - which is a curious way to try and keep a driver to stay.
 
Button could lose F1 license - Ecclestone

Jenson Button runs the risk of losing his Superlicense if he's in breach of contract, Formula One's impresario Bernie Ecclestone warned Sunday.

If anyone is at fault, the 73-year-old head of Formula One Management said, it is Button's management 'Essentially Sport' and ramifications would be serious.

Bernie said F1's Contracts Board in Geneva will examine the issue.

Ecclestone told Sunday's Daily Star "[They will] decide what is right and what is wrong. He could lose his license and that would mean he can not drive."

Jenson's manager John Byfield reportedly phoned Frank Williams last week explaining that a loophole had been found in the 2005 'option' with BAR. But Bernie believes Button has a 'moral obligation' to stay put.

"Unfortunately, agents and big money mean morals go out the window. But we are not like football - I like to think our players stick to their agreements."

He said the matter had been 'stupidly' handled.

BAR boss David Richards clearly agreed when he said Button should reconsider because a person should go through life 'honouring the essence' of agreements.

Button meanwhile spent the past week holidaying in Sardinia.

News Source: http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/040809093931.shtml]F1 Racing Live[/url]

--------------------------------------

Also .. another news has it that Jenson might be dropped for the rest of the season by BAR, opting to run with Anthony Davidson(test driver).

US
 
BAR have already denied they will not run Button this year - seems a little silly in the face of an argument of "honouring a contract" not to let the part of the contract that isn't in dispute not to run its course. BAR also need to continue to impress Honda and Button is the best driver they have at the moment.

As for Ecclestones comments, I suspect thats nothing more than hot air. They last thing they are going to do is remove the most popular British driver from the line-up, especially one that could potentially challenge Schumacher.
 
Button's contract with BAR is only valid contract

The Contract Recognition Board stated today that Jenson Button has just one valid contract for the 2005 season and that is with BAR Honda. The news means that unless another arrangement can be found, Jenson Button will remain under contract to BAR. The following is a press release from BAR Honda.

The FIA Contract Recognition Board (CRB) acknowledged, in writing, that, as of today, the BAR Contract with Jenson Button is the only valid contract registered for the 2005 season.

A driver's "super license" - his right to drive in Formula 1 - is only valid if his contract has been lodged with and registered by the CRB and all driver contracts contain a provision submitting all priority disputes to the CRB.

The CRB was established in 1992 to regulate driver contracts and resolve priority disputes where a driver enters into a new contract with a Formula 1 team when a clearly established and registered contract is already in existence. The purpose of the CRB is to enforce driver contracts and provide a swift international resolution to conflicts which if channelled through national legal systems could be drawn-out and could result in a wholly inappropriate remedy for the innocent party and for the sport as a whole.

All signatories to the Concorde Agreement are bound by the procedures of the CRB which requires any new driver contract to be registered 'forthwith' i.e. immediately, and without delay, in order to establish its validity.

BAR has willingly submitted itself to this process which is final and binding on all parties.

News Source: http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/040810131056.shtml]F1 Racing Live[/url]
 
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