Button To Discover His Future

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from planetf1.com:

Button to discover future

Friday October 15 2004

Jenson Button will discover on Saturday whether he is allowed to quit BAR and move to Williams for 2005.

The Englishman has signed contracts with both teams but prefers a switch to Williams, where he began his Formula One career in 2000.

His case has gone before Formula One's contract recognition board (CRB) and they will meet on Saturday when they are expected to rule on Button's future.

BAR have always insisted they had a binding deal with Button before he signed for Williams and boss David Richards is hopeful the CRB will rule in his favour.

Richards is adamant BAR will not suffer too much if Button is allowed to move to Williams though, insisting the team's unprecedented success this year has come not from one man.

He said: "Jenson is a very key member of the team but there are so many other people in the team.

"Obviously if we lost any key member of the team we would be disappointed with that but hopefully we will keep the team together.

"Let's not worry about individuals because team efforts are about every single person in the team, every person plays a significant part, the drivers more so than most, but at the end of the day, you cannot get away from the fact that this is a team sport.

"Whatever anyone thinks about who sprays the champagne, who stands up on the podium, this is about 400 people in this case and every one of them is important. Life always goes on."

Whatever the outcome, Richards is proud of how BAR have regrouped following Button's shock announcement in August.

The team have virtually tied up second place in the constructors' championship despite the off-track disruption and Richards was keen to praise their efforts.

"This team has proven to the world that we are a group of professionals who work extraordinarily well together and have proved in the face of all odds that we can deliver results," he said.

"The question is how have we performed in the last few races since this issue raised its head? We have performed impeccably, every single person in the team.

"All credit to Jenson, in the face of very difficult circumstances he has behaved impeccably. He has been very professional and no-one can deny that, as has everyone around him as well. It is a true measure of a great team."

The CRB ruling is binding in Formula One terms and Button will only be granted the super licence he needs to compete if he races for the team mandated by the CRB.

Several other drivers are waiting on the Button situation to be resolved as they chase race drives for 2005.

Antonio Pizzonia would be the most likely Williams driver should the Grove-based team fail to poach Button, after the Brazilian impressed as a stand-in for the injured Ralf Schumacher recently.

David Coulthard and Anthony Davidson are waiting in the wings to replace Button at BAR should Richards' case fail.

Coulthard appeared to be the favourite prior to last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix courtesy of his greater experience but Richards hinted at Suzuka he would reward Davidson's superb testing work.

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Personally, I want Jenson to go to Williams as it will mean that Davidson and Button will both be in competitive teams next year. Hopefully DC will find a drive for 2005 as well.

[Sato 0]

how many "brit" drivers do you need?

and why is it that the brits count DC as an englishman? his is scottish!

anyway i hope he moves wot williams so davidson gets the ride, and DC doesn't find a seat anywhere.

[AutoRacer5 0]

Scotland isn't it's own country, though i wish it was as actually i'm part scottish.

[backmarker 0]

how many "brit" drivers do you need?

and why is it that the brits count DC as an englishman? his is scottish!

anyway i hope he moves wot williams so davidson gets the ride, and DC doesn't find a seat anywhere.

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how many "brit" drivers do you need? - maybe as many as there are Germans or Brazilians or Italians - and by the way a "Brit" can be from England , Ireland, Scotland or Wales

[Sato 0]

Brit stands fro british, british is English, scotland is not from england, they ares scots....you'd refer to them as scottish.

[pumpdoc 2]

Bar will win this one, that doesn't preclude Williams making a deal but look for DR the get the maxim from Sir Frank.

[Senna 0]

Brit stands fro british, british is English, scotland is not from england, they ares scots....you'd refer to them as scottish.

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If someone is British it means that they are either from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, or from a combination of the four. JB and DC are both British but to be more specific, the former is English and the latter is Scottish. I consider myself to be British, not uniquely English, which means that I support all British drivers and I can

[Sato 0]

I've only ever supported 1 Australian F1 driver. But i've supported a brit (Damon Hill) and a jap (Takuma Sato).

[nojvnof1 0]

i read on various websites that there is no chance JB will drive for BARf even if they win the case. So if they win, I see JB sitting '05 out, Davidson in at BAR and Pizzonia at Williams. Looks like both teams get screwed, Williams get Webber and Pizzonia, hardly their "race winning driver lineup" that they wanted, whilst BAR are stuck with Davidson and Sato. Davidson gets a reprive as he is unknown talent re. Race wise, although his two races at Minardi were ok, whilst Sato, well, I'll let Senna finish this one off Nah, Sato has done a good job, but he needs to improve as he will be team leader with Button gone. That's my take on things.

[Taku 0]

i read on various websites that there is no chance JB will drive for BARf even if they win the case. So if they win, I see JB sitting '05 out, Davidson in at BAR and Pizzonia at Williams. Looks like both teams get screwed, Williams get Webber and Pizzonia, hardly their "race winning driver lineup" that they wanted, whilst BAR are stuck with Davidson and Sato. Davidson gets a reprive as he is unknown talent re. Race wise, although his two races at Minardi were ok, whilst Sato, well, I'll let Senna finish this one off    Nah, Sato has done a good job, but he needs to improve as he will be team leader with Button gone. That's my take on things.

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i think that bar will win the case, and that a crb set up for pursuing what has to be assumed is the best for formula 1's interests as a whole (or the sport's whole) could never rule that button's williams contract is valid (if what we've all read about the situation is even close to the truth). it would be madness for f1 contracts to be so flimsy. it sounds like there were gurantees given about honda's involvement and dr has now paid button what he previously owed him.

i agree with nojv's pick for the bar line-up next year, but i think button will race for williams. Despite bar winning the case, i think williams will take the matter to the courts, where they will take a stiffer interpretation of contract law, including button's desire to work where he wants. this wil free up button for next year (as long as the legal proceedings don't take all next year!).

sato will also have to improve next year and i'm extremely confident that he will. he has every year of his career so far. so in the end i think it will be two happy teams next year with the bar garage and factory being very happy places to be with the popular sato and 'ant' behind the wheels. no more traitor upsetting the harmony.

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Davidson has been impressive at both Minardi and BAR, in particular BAR, and will no doubt do well next year now that he has gained some more experience. Sato will have to improve next year but with more experience and patience, he could well do so. It