Button's season ends early

The British driver, who is guaranteed to finish third in the drivers' championship having finished on the podium ten times this season, had hoped to cap his year with a victory.

"It's very disappointing to have to retire before we've really got started," said Button, who pulled off the track on lap four. "We had a fire on the grid and I thought as soon as we got started I would be able to put it out but we stayed on the grid so long that I think it destroyed some of the electrics.

"The engine was down on power for the three laps that I completed. It's very disappointing because the car was working well and I was able to get up to third place. It could have been a very interesting result."

Jenson Button's year has been fraught with controversy. He announced he had signed a deal to drive for Williams in 2005, only to be told by the Contracts Recognition Board last week that he must stay with BAR. But despite the fight between Williams and BAR for Button's services, the distractions remained off track as he proved the most consistent challenger to Ferrari throughout the season.

"It's been a great season," he concluded. "To get ten podiums is amazing. It's been a little bit up and down because of the CRB issue, but it's been a great year all round, it's just a pity we couldn't end on a high. It's a disappointing way to end."