Williams: BAR Missed Option Deadline on Button

BAR had an option on Jenson Button for 2005 but the deadline for this option had expired, Frank Williams stated tonight, in an interview with BBC Radio.

Williams made a surprise announcement tonight, stating Briton Button will re-join the team next season, to drive alongside Australian Mark Webber. However, Button's current employer, BAR-Honda team chief David Richards threatened with legal action to block the move, stating Button has a binding contract with BAR.

"[Button] has been under option to his present team BAR for some time," Williams told the BBC. "The option expired recently and Button's management called us to say that the option was no longer valid and would we be interested in his services - and of course I reacted as you might expect me to.

"I think [BAR] probably wanted to take up the option but whether they've executed or not will come out in due course."

Williams was asked why he believes Button wished to make a return to Williams, after apparently being successful and supported in his existing team. Williams said he did not know Button's reasons, but speculated that Button might have wanted to make a return ever since leaving the Grove-based outfit.

"He started with us in 2000 and we've been in very close contact all of the time since," Williams said. "Maybe he just harboured a wish [to make a return] and recognised we had spent tens of millions of pounds reinvesting in the company technically speaking.

"Maybe he recognises we have a greater opportunity of providing him a World Championship car than his present team.

"I haven't asked him the real answer yet."