BAR Announce Button Deal

The British American Racing team confirmed on Monday that Briton Jenson Button will drive for the Brackley-based squad in 2003.

The current Renault driver has signed a two-year deal to drive for BAR, a period after which the team will have options for a further two years.

"I'm delighted to welcome Jenson to BAR," said team boss David Richards. "He has an extraordinary talent which now needs to be nurtured in the right environment in order for it to flourish. Over the past seven months the management team have set out a long-term plan which is designed to deliver success to BAR and our partners.

"This won't happen overnight and we have realistic expectations for the next two seasons. In the current Formula One climate, we are fortunate to have the stability of long-term funding and a strong, developing relationship with Honda.

"Our agreement with Jenson will enable us to carry that stability through to our driver line-up and, as we move forward, I have every confidence that he will play a pivotal role in gelling the team together."

Button, who made his Formula One debut in 2000 with the Williams team, was forced to leave Renault after they announced on Sunday that Spaniard Fernando Alonso would be driving alongside Italian Jarno Trulli in the upcoming season.

"I'm thrilled to be joining BAR," said Button. "The past few weeks have been very exciting and I've been flattered by the enormous attention I've received. I've had a whole range of opportunities open to me but after careful consideration of what would be best for my future, BAR provided me with an excellent opportunity to progress and ultimately, I hope, to achieve my ambition to be World Champion.

"David Richards has talked me through the long-term strategy for the team in great detail and I have been very impressed with the strength of the partnership with Honda. I have no doubt that, together, we can all look forward to some very exciting times ahead."

BAR, however, did not say which driver will Button be replacing next year, although it is expected that he will take Olivier Panis' seat after Richards said over the weekend that he wanted a long term deal with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve.