Grapevine: Renault Deny Blocking Button from Testing

The Renault F1 team today denied having blocked Briton Jenson Button from testing with the British American Racing team before the end of the year.

Thursday's Autosport magazine claimed that Button, who will drive for the BAR team next season, will be unable to test with his new squad after Renault blocked him, claiming the Briton is still under contract with them.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore, however, denied blocking Button and claimed that had BAR asked for permission he would have granted it.

"It is true that Jenson is under contract with us up until the end of December, but we have never been asked either by (BAR Boss) David Richards or by Jenson's manager, John Byfield to release Jenson from his contract earlier," said Briatore in a statement.

"After the Japanese Grand Prix, I was asked by Jenson's manager, if Jenson could visit the Honda factory, which I had no problem authorising. If David Richards had requested Jenson for testing duties I would probably have accepted as it was fair."

A BAR spokeswoman confirmed that the Briton, who drove for Renault last season and is joining Canadian Jacques Villeneuve at BAR, would test at the southern Spanish Jerez circuit on December 13 and 14.