Richards Won't Let 'Future WC' Button Go

British American Racing will not let Jenson Button go to Williams or another team, BAR prinicpal David Richards said, adding the young Briton is "a future world champion."

Button has been one of the drivers rumoured to be targetted by Williams as possible replacements for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2005, when the Colombian moves to McLaren. But Richards, who brought Button to the team a year ago and has known the young Briton since childhood, told the British Sunday Mirror he has no plans to give up Button.

"It's a compliment to Jenson and also to us that there is so much speculation about Williams and other teams wanting him," Richards told the newspaper. "It shows what an exceptional driver Jenson is and proves our judgment was sound. We could see his capabilities all along and now everyone else can.

"We signed Jenson because we were convinced he had the potential to become World Champion and we're committed to giving him that opportunity. We genuinely believe we can achieve that. I am certain you will see a significant improvement in our performance next year and then we expect to be challenging the familiar contenders in 2005.

"Jenson is going nowhere because he has no reason to leave. He can realise his ambitions with us."

Richards further praised Button's capabilities and his settling down at the team, having moved to BAR from Renault. "Jenson settled very quickly into the team and it is clearly an environment he responds to," Richards said.

"I believe we can get the best out of him. He has four years' experience in F1, but he is still very young. He can only get better. He not only has the ability but also the application and temperament. He's not fazed by anything. He showed that with Jacques [Villeneuve].

"There's no question in my mind that he's a future world champion."