Williams lodges Button contract
BMW-Williams has lodged its contract with Jenson Button with the FIA-recognised Contracts Recognition Board (CRB) in Switzerland. The CRB will now be in a position to rule on the validity of Button's contract with both BAR and Williams and decide which team the Briton will drive for in 2005
Button announced his decision to join his former Williams team at the beginning of August, but BAR team boss David Richards vowed to fight for the Briton's services. BAR claims it has the only valid contract for 2005 and submitted its contract with Button to the CRB before the Brit announced his intention to leave the team.
Williams, though, is also convinced its contract is binding after Button exercised an opt-out clause to leave the Brackley-based team. The team delayed lodging its contract with the board in the hope of securing a peaceful resolution without the need of the CRB.
Button is set to hold a press briefing this afternoon (Monday) to give his side of the story.
Richards remains confident that the CRB will rule in favour of the Brackley-based team. "We've lodged the contract and it would be inappropriate to elaborate on any on the issues any further," Richards told Autosport in August. "We've submitted ourselves to the process and that's all there is to it."
Check back to Autosport.com for Button's comments...
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