Williams: Button Not for Sale
Frank Williams has told Jenson Button that he can forget about trying to buy himself out of his contract with his team next year - and insists that their deal is binding
The fight between BAR and Williams for Button's services in 2006 has erupted this week following Button's exclusive interview with Autosport where he explained for the first time about why he wanted to stay with BAR for next year.
But Williams has said he is not going to back down over the matter. He has dismissed Button's suggestions that the contract may not be watertight and has also said that he is not interested in a financial deal to let him go.
"Jenson is emphatically, in capital letters, NOT FOR SALE," declared Williams. "We are a serious racing team, we need him."
Williams claims that his approach to the situation is clear, in that he believes Button has a contract and he fully expects it to be honoured.
"Williams has a fully binding straightforward contract with no let-out, it is very straightforward, clear to understand," said Williams. "There needs to be a clearer understanding of the word commitment.
"Once you give your word you should keep your word. I think he could be better advised. He is still very young. I recognise that where he presently is the team is doing well to very well but next season is all change for everyone with the new engines, the order will almost certainly shuffle.
"We are a strong team with a strong past, a weak present and, certainly to my mind, a strong commitment to the future. We are very well resourced, as well as any team in the paddock and I do not over exaggerate, we will be back.
"Jenson is part of our equipment to help us come back. We are looking forward to a British team with a British driver, it will be nice to see that again. We brought him in in 2000 and we look forward to seeing him again because we have a proper and correct legal right to expect him to be here."
When asked about the problem of having a driver racing for him next year who did not want to be there, Williams was adamant it made no difference.
"There are probably employees I have at Williams that I don't want to keep at Williams, but the law prevents me," he said.
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