Monday Deadline for Button

BAR has issued an ultimatum to Jenson Button's management company, Essentially Sport, requiring them to arrange a face to face meeting between Button and BAR executives by close of business on Monday or face immediate action to enforce BAR's contract with Button.

"We have been trying to talk to Jenson for days," said David Richards, BAR Team Principal. "He has a clear duty to all of those who've worked with him for the last two years to explain to them what is going on."

"We have complete confidence in the strength of our contractual rights," said Richards, "and in the option that we have exercised for 2005."

The option was approved at a board meeting of BAR on 20th July. Jenson and his management team were informed of this in writing well before the end of the option period on 31st July, a fact acknowledged by Essentially Sport. Notice of exercise of the option had also been lodged with F1's Contract Recognition Board in Switzerland.

"If people make commitments they should keep them - and I will use every means available to me to make sure that all the requirements of our contract are met," said Richards. "If we do not have a meeting with Jenson by Monday night to sort this out, the processes to enforce our rights under the contract will commence without further notice."