Button Regrets Bid to Join Williams

British Formula One driver Jenson Button has admitted he was "misguided" in seeking to move from BAR to Williams.

The 24-year-old announced his intention in August to drive for Williams believing that a clause in his BAR contract would allow him to leave. BAR challenged the move and officials upheld their claim, forcing Button into an awkward U-turn.

"Yes, I did make some mistakes," the 24-year-old said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday.

Button has since made up with BAR chief David Richards, although Richards has left the team after Honda bought a 45 percent stake in it two weeks ago.

"In my reasoning for moving I don't think I made a mistake but in not talking to David myself, I was misguided.

"I've never been in this situation before, I don't know the legal side of things, so I just had to listen to what people had to say. I did that, and I thought it was the correct thing to do, but obviously it wasn't."

Button's desire to join Williams was all the stronger because they were the team with whom he made his Formula One breakthrough in 2000 aged 20. The Briton said, however, he was now relieved the row is over.

"It's been very tiring...I'm staying with BAR next year and now that the decision has been made I'm actually very happy," he said.

Button, who finished third in the 2004 Drivers' Championship, said the confirmation of Honda as engine supplier was a big boost for him and the BAR team.

"Honda having a stake in the team is the best thing for BAR," he said. "It's huge for everyone working here. It makes us very excited about the coming years."