Button Aims to Drive for Best Team

Button, currently driving for BAR, was linked with a move to World Champions Ferrari in a report by the Daily Mirror newspaper on Sunday.

The British driver did not confirm or deny the rumours, but claimed after his home race that driving for Ferrari is not one of his goals, especially if the World Champions continue to show their current form.

"It is not an ambition of mine to drive for any team. If Ferrari are the sixth or seventh best team next year I have no reason to be with them apart from a nice company car," said Button.

"What does it matter? What difference does it make if it means you are going to finish fifth or sixth.

"I want to be with the best team, whoever it is. Obviously money is important, we all earn money. But I would rather have a car that is competitive, that is a lot more important for me. To achieve something is a lot more important than money."

The Williams team are believed to have a claim on Button for 2006 if he fails to have scored a certain points tally by the end of next month. With three races left before the clause is activated, Button looks unlikely to meet that goal.

BAR chief Nick Fry, however, is hopeful Button will want to stay at the Honda-powered team next season.

"Clearly there is not much new news but we are very, very hopeful that Jenson is going to stay with us," said Fry. "Jenson is a bright lad and he is not looking at today, he is looking at overall the next five years. Honda are a company that has won 11 World Championships.

"At the end of the day he knows they are completely determined to win. We will give him the best chance to be Formula One World Champion - there is no doubt.

"One thing is clear for all to see, we have a Honda engine and we have Honda as half owners of the company and Williams don't appear to have an engine at the moment."