Ecclestone Unhappy with Button's Move

Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone criticised Briton Jenson Button for leaving BAR and moving to Williams, saying the young driver has a moral obligation to remain at his current team.

Button's move to Williams is understood to have been made possible by a technicality in his current contract, but Ecclestone expressed the opinion that this could still be considered as a breach of contract.

"We have a contracts board in Geneva which will examine the issue and decide what's right and what's wrong, if anything," Ecclestone was quoted as saying by the Daily Star newspaper today. "If Button is found to be in breach of contract with BAR and wants to move on illegally, he could lose his super licence and that would mean he couldn't drive for Williams."

But Ecclestone emphasized his opinion is based primarily on what he considered a moral - and not legal - issue.

"Morally, Jenson has an obligation to stay [in BAR]," Ecclestone said, "but when agents, promises and big money come into it, morals go out the window. We are not like football - I like to think our players stick to their agreements and promises.

"This has all been quite stupidly handled and if a technicality allows him (Button) out of his contract, I don't think he would be much of a gentleman to take it."