Analysis: CRB Ruling Leaves Button in Dilemma
Jenson Button's dreams of a return to Williams-BMW next year were left in tatters on Wednesday night when a controversial switch from BAR-Honda was blocked following a long-running legal war.
Jenson Button's dreams of a return to Williams-BMW next year were left in tatters on Wednesday night when a controversial switch from BAR-Honda was blocked following a long-running legal war.
Button secured a deal to join Williams in August but his current boss David Richards contested the move after claiming that the Briton had already signed a deal to extend his current BAR contract into 2005.
Richards joined rival boss Sir Frank Williams to fight it out at a hearing of the Contracts Recognition Board in Milan on Saturday but the pair were forced to wait until Wednesday to hear the result.
After an anxious wait ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix a Williams spokesman said: "The CRB has adjudicated in BAR's favour. A full statement will follow in due course."
Button has become hot property since he scored his first podium in Malaysia this year and he will finish the season in third place behind Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.
The 24-year-old, who made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2000, has claimed 10 podium finishes and scored 85 of BAR's 116 points this season as they rose to an unprecedented second place in the Constructors' Championship.
Both sides were confident they had Button tied to a legal contract and the trio of lawyers in the CRB were brought in to determine which one was binding and where Button must drive in 2005.
Button, who has managed to avoid a rift since the initial announcement of the proposed move, must now discuss his future at the team and could decide to take a year out before finally joining Williams when his contract comes to an end.
If so, BAR will face the dilemma of choosing a replacement for their departing driver and are likely to pick either their English test driver Anthony Davidson or Scot David Coulthard, who will leave McLaren at the end of the year.
Richards said before the hearing that Button is not indispensable.
"Whatever anyone thinks about who sprays the champagne, who stands up on the podium, at the end of the day this is a team sport and life goes on," he said. "Jenson is a very key member of the team but let's not worry about individuals because team efforts are about every single person in the team, every person plays a significant part."
How Le Mans is using grape residues and hydrogen to drive a sustainable future
How Le Mans is using grape residues and hydrogen to drive a sustainable future How Le Mans is using grape residues and hydrogen to drive a sustainable future
Schumacher: The Low Points
Schumacher: The Low Points Schumacher: The Low Points
Schumacher: The High Points
Schumacher: The High Points Schumacher: The High Points
Button praises Verstappen F1 quality that cancels weak team-mate argument
Button praises Verstappen F1 quality that cancels weak team-mate argument Button praises Verstappen F1 quality that cancels weak team-mate argument
Button set to race Fangio’s personal Jaguar at Goodwood
Button set to race Fangio’s personal Jaguar at Goodwood Button set to race Fangio’s personal Jaguar at Goodwood
How NASCAR is aiming to thrill on its Le Mans return
How NASCAR is aiming to thrill on its Le Mans return How NASCAR is aiming to thrill on its Le Mans return
Ferrari brings new F1 car floor to Japan in bid to boost efficiency
Ferrari brings new F1 car floor to Japan in bid to boost efficiency Ferrari brings new F1 car floor to Japan in bid to boost efficiency
F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen dominant in FP1 as Red Bull hunt constructors' crown
F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen dominant in FP1 as Red Bull hunt constructors' crown F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen dominant in FP1 as Red Bull hunt constructors' crown
McLaren signs Le Mans winner Hirakawa as F1 reserve driver
McLaren signs Le Mans winner Hirakawa as F1 reserve driver McLaren signs Le Mans winner Hirakawa as F1 reserve driver
Live: F1 Japanese GP updates - FP1 & FP2
Live: F1 Japanese GP updates - FP1 & FP2 Live: F1 Japanese GP updates - FP1 & FP2
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks
How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks
The numbers that reveal F1's aerodynamic efficiency improvements
The numbers that reveal F1's aerodynamic efficiency improvements The numbers that reveal F1's aerodynamic efficiency improvements
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.