Why did Jenson want to leave BAR?

[Senna 0]

from f1-live.com:

Jenson Button has confirmed that his decision to leave BAR and join BMW Williams next season was because of unhappiness over contract differences including bonus payments.

The Englishman is in the middle of a tug-of-war between BAR and Williams over his future services after both teams claimed to have binding contracts with him for 2005.

Button wants to drive for Williams in 2005 and believes the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) will allow him to leave BAR and feels Williams' pedigree at the top of the sport is sure to bring him closer to his World Championship dream. However, he admitted his unhappiness at BAR initially convinced him to look elsewhere.

Button and BAR boss David Richards suffered a disagreement over bonus payments at the end of last season, which has yet to be resolved. In his first press conference on the subject since news of his Williams move broke, Button revealed all was not well between him and Richards well before his surprise summer switch.

"There are many issues, that [bonuses] is one of them, I'm not going to say exactly what it is," Button said. "Contractually we had some differences, we had some issues. That was at the end of 2003. It hasn't been resolved. One of the reasons why I want to move on is because I am not 100 percent happy at the team, and one of the reasons I've not been happy is that there are issues with the contract. We've tried to resolve them but to no avail."

Button, who began his Formula One career with Williams in 2000, feels sure his move back to Grove will be rubber-stamped by the CRB over the next three weeks. However he has not been impressed with Richards' claims that BAR have first call on his services.

"I don't understand why he is saying that because we are pretty sure I am going to be racing for BMW Williams next year," Button continued. "I think the CRB will understand our position and we will be there next year. I wouldn't be going through all of this if I didn't think it was possible. It's never 100 percent certain but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be with BMW Williams next year."

"I would rather it had been a lot easier, I don't really like the way it has been handled at all. It's not a nice position to be in. We had an agreement to be with BAR for two years, I honoured that agreement and I think I did a good job. I think I have been a big bonus for the team. I'm sure they'll have a good year next year but for me I need to move on and be with a team that can challenge for the championship over the next two years. I'd rather it was a much more simple move and we hadn't got into such a big argument about it."

[nojvnof1 0]

Why did he want to leave?? Two words: David Richards.

[Senna 0]

Why did he want to leave?? Two words: David Richards.

Yes, but the interesting thing about this article is that it tells us how Jenson was in dispute with DR over bonus payments and had been since the end of 2003. I just thought it was interesting to know that, despite what both parties claim, money was indeed an issue. It

[Shadow 0]

Maybe JB wanted to leave because of David. But where in the world will Mr.Patriotic(DR) show his face after he boasted about JB being a British driver who was going to win the Championship with BAR and he would'nt sign Ant because he did'nt want both their drivers British. However, interesting to see the role of money in JB's decision,

[Senna 0]

Maybe JB wanted to leave because of David. But where in the world will Mr.Patriotic(DR) show his face after he boasted about JB being a British driver who was going to win the Championship with BAR and he would'nt sign Ant because he did'nt want both their drivers British. However, interesting to see the role of money in JB's decision,

True, but DR will also be happy for another reason. Remember DR said he would retire when JB won the WDC at BAR. Well, it looks like DR will keep his job for some time to come!

[Shadow 0]

True, but DR will also be happy for another reason.  Remember DR said he would retire when JB won the WDC at BAR.  Well, it looks like DR will keep his job for some time to come!

You caught me there. I had overlooked that fact :oops:

[nojvnof1 0]

Maybe JB wanted to leave because of David. But where in the world will Mr.Patriotic(DR) show his face after he boasted about JB being a British driver who was going to win the Championship with BAR and he would'nt sign Ant because he did'nt want both their drivers British. However, interesting to see the role of money in JB's decision,

True, but DR will also be happy for another reason. Remember DR said he would retire when JB won the WDC at BAR. Well, it looks like DR will keep his job for some time to come!

or he might just get the good old boot!! 8)

[Shadow 0]

or he might just get the good old boot!!  8)

[Senna 0]

or he might just get the good old boot!!  8)

I doubt it, not yet at least.

[eddoyle 0]

Although I read this article, Im sure how much weight I give to it. Button is under pressure to explain, primarily to his curent team, why he decided to leave them.

In truth He cant just say

I think you guys are goig nowhere or

Williams are simply offering me more money or

I had a little spat with DR, I want to show him that Im the real boss

so whatever he says to justitify his decision will be desinged to make his position seem reasonable and paint the other side as the bad guy. I am sure there is truth in what he says about bonus payments, but drivers and their management have these arguments with teams all the time. A key element of this debate is characterised by the two facts, DR has made no comment on this what so ever, and he remains very confident that CRB will find in his favour. Noone, not JB or JV would deny DR is a clever guy.

Thus before I would be inclined to form a view on the righs and wrongs of the siutation, i would wait to hear the deliberations of the CRB. However even when the findings become known, we may never know what the real reason why Jenson wanted to leave, was it simply ambition ? this would display a ruthless streak in a driver who by his own word count stomach tough negotiations over bonus payments with his own team or was it simply petulance, where he was looking for a way out of difficult negotuiations and simply jumped ship at an unexpected opportunity elsewhere....... or perhaps he was tempted out ? and so far the real villain in the story has not yet made (and will never make) the headlines over this. ?????

[nojvnof1 0]

Although I read this article, Im sure how much weight I give to it. Button is under pressure to explain, primarily to his curent team, why he decided to leave them. 

In truth He cant just say

I think you guys are goig nowhere or 

Williams are simply offering me more money or

I had a little spat with DR, I want to show him that Im the real boss

so whatever he says to justitify his decision will be desinged to make his position seem reasonable and paint the other side as the bad guy. I am sure there is truth in what he says about bonus payments, but drivers and their management have these arguments with teams all the time. A key element of this debate is characterised by the two facts, DR has made no comment on this what so ever, and he remains very confident that CRB will find in his favour. Noone, not JB or JV would deny DR is a clever guy.

Thus before I would be inclined to form a view on the righs and wrongs of the siutation, i would wait to hear the deliberations of the CRB. However even when the findings become known, we may never know what the real reason why Jenson wanted to leave, was it simply ambition ? this would display a ruthless streak in a driver who by his own word count stomach tough negotiations over bonus payments with his own team or was it simply petulance, where he was looking for a way out of difficult negotuiations and simply jumped ship at an unexpected opportunity elsewhere....... or perhaps he was tempted out ? and so far the real villain in the story has not yet made (and will never make) the headlines  over this. ?????

I can think of other names JB/JV would call him!! Apparently, JB is angry at the way DR has reacted to the whole thing ie, leaking news out, giving him a bad name etc, the things he did to JV last year apparently.

[nojvnof1 0]

Although I read this article, Im sure how much weight I give to it. Button is under pressure to explain, primarily to his curent team, why he decided to leave them. 

In truth He cant just say

I think you guys are goig nowhere or 

Williams are simply offering me more money or

I had a little spat with DR, I want to show him that Im the real boss

so whatever he says to justitify his decision will be desinged to make his position seem reasonable and paint the other side as the bad guy. I am sure there is truth in what he says about bonus payments, but drivers and their management have these arguments with teams all the time. A key element of this debate is characterised by the two facts, DR has made no comment on this what so ever, and he remains very confident that CRB will find in his favour. Noone, not JB or JV would deny DR is a clever guy.

Thus before I would be inclined to form a view on the righs and wrongs of the siutation, i would wait to hear the deliberations of the CRB. However even when the findings become known, we may never know what the real reason why Jenson wanted to leave, was it simply ambition ? this would display a ruthless streak in a driver who by his own word count stomach tough negotiations over bonus payments with his own team or was it simply petulance, where he was looking for a way out of difficult negotuiations and simply jumped ship at an unexpected opportunity elsewhere....... or perhaps he was tempted out ? and so far the real villain in the story has not yet made (and will never make) the headlines  over this. ?????

I can think of other names JB/JV would call him!! Apparently, JB is angry at the way DR has reacted to the whole thing ie, leaking news out, giving him a bad name etc, the things he did to JV last year apparently.

[Taku 0]

Although I read this article, Im sure how much weight I give to it. Button is under pressure to explain, primarily to his curent team, why he decided to leave them. 

In truth He cant just say

I think you guys are goig nowhere or 

Williams are simply offering me more money or

I had a little spat with DR, I want to show him that Im the real boss

so whatever he says to justitify his decision will be desinged to make his position seem reasonable and paint the other side as the bad guy. I am sure there is truth in what he says about bonus payments, but drivers and their management have these arguments with teams all the time. A key element of this debate is characterised by the two facts, DR has made no comment on this what so ever, and he remains very confident that CRB will find in his favour. Noone, not JB or JV would deny DR is a clever guy.

Thus before I would be inclined to form a view on the righs and wrongs of the siutation, i would wait to hear the deliberations of the CRB. However even when the findings become known, we may never know what the real reason why Jenson wanted to leave, was it simply ambition ? this would display a ruthless streak in a driver who by his own word count stomach tough negotiations over bonus payments with his own team or was it simply petulance, where he was looking for a way out of difficult negotuiations and simply jumped ship at an unexpected opportunity elsewhere....... or perhaps he was tempted out ? and so far the real villain in the story has not yet made (and will never make) the headlines  over this. ?????

you are quite right, it is difficult to say for what reason did jb leave, and who is ultimately at fault. we can all agree that the last thing we should be doing with f1 press releases is take them for their face value. it is purely pr, and when that is the case it matters little about whether what is said is true. rather what matters is that it is believable and it achieves what it set out to achieve. ie make people believe what the authors want you to believe. inevitably there will be press releases that are complete bullsh*t. ultimately this is the entertainment business and untill someone is sworn under oath to tell the truth, these people will always just be putting spin on spins of their version of the truth. so who do you believe?

at this stage i think that jb is the dishonest one, telling fibs and bailing out on his boys. dr seems to be the one wronged. but why did jb do it? who knows. it could be because richards has bad breath and is a close-talker, and jb is homo-phobic and doesn't care too much for people with bad breath. but getting back to your point, who knows in the end. lets just hurry up and get this settled already and maybe in 20 years when jb writes his memoirs we will know the truth.

well, at least his side of the story anyway... :wink:

[Senna 0]

In truth He cant just say

I think you guys are goig nowhere or 

Williams are simply offering me more money or

I had a little spat with DR, I want to show him that Im the real boss

I think JB is moving simply because he feels that Williams offers him the best chance of becoming World Champion. Despite this talk of bonus payments, JB