Richards continues Button fight

Richards insists that the team took up Button's option for next year and believes it's a matter of integrity that the Briton fulfill his commitments to the team.

"There is absolutely no way I am going to back down on this matter. No way," Richards told The Guardian.. "The guy has a contract with our team. We are talking here about a point of integrity. You can't just welch out of your commitments.

"I've also had letters of support from several other team principals saying they support my position and said that this sort of behaviour just has to be stopped. Today was an opportunity to have a sensible dialogue with Jenson. I wanted to point out that it was beholden on him to come and explain himself before [he signed for Williams], not after."

Richards said he had no plans to drop Button for the rest of the year and insisted that the Briton would be in the cockpit for the rest of the season.

"We're not descending to this type of behaviour," he said. "Jenson has a contract with us to the end of the year. The point of difference between us is whether or not he is committed for next year as well."