Button to Williams for 2005

[RallyRaider]

After all the speculation Williams have signed Jenson Button for 2005 and beyond. Who saw that coming? Didn't we all think he was contracted to BAR? Sly and clever move by Sir Frank.

[ales]

Wow wow wow. Does Richards have anyone better in the pipeline then?

Hats of to Williams, a shrewd move.

[crayzayjay]

Holy cow. I just saw it on Teletext and had to re-read it to make sure I hadnt made a mistake.

DR must be enraged.

So it's Button and Webber at Williams. Place your bets please, gentlemen.

[ales]

$5 on Webber

[RallyRaider]

Richards must be in consultation with this lawyers as we speak

[Mpowered]

Extremely slick move. I hated to see JPM leave. Letting Ralph go was a very good move. Signing Jensen makes me happy happy happy. I was afraid that they were going to do something stupid and bring Jacques back. Williams-BMW for doing the right thing this time.

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, now we see, I think, old British F3 teammates Takuma Sato and Athony Davidson reunited in anger in F1.

Although rumor has it Mika Hakkenein has tested with BAR.

Really, though, it's a shame Jenson is leaving the growing BAR team for the stumbling Williams squad. Though Williams may have their collective sh*t together next season and give truly good machinery to Webber and Button. Lord knows those two deserve it more than Whine Pablo Montoya and Ralfie.

[ales]

Originally Posted by RallyRaider

Richards must be in consultation with this lawyers as we speak

Yes he is He must look a decade older after yesterday too.

Originally Posted by F1 central

Jenson Button's switch from BAR to Williams might not be as straightforward as the news headlines suggest, it emerged in the wake of the official announcement.

Brackley-based principal David Richards, who has spent the season talking up Jenson's future championship bid, said he had been 'utterly shaken' last night.

He reckons Honda-powered BAR had the 24-year-old under firm contract.

Media reports suggest Button's management, led by John Byfield, found an 'out' clause in his '05 contract offering a release if Honda was not committed to BAR.

Other reports quoted Richards as utterly furious at the move.

Frank Williams told BBC radio that BAR's 'option' on Button expired recently. ''[Button's] management called and said it's no longer valid,'' he explained.

''They said 'would you be interested in his services?'''

The knighted team principal continued: ''I think BAR probably wanted to take up the option [on him] but whether [they did] or not will come out in due course.''

Sources said the issue is to be referred to the FIA's 'contracts recognitions board' for adjudication, but last night Richards just wanted to talk to his man.

He said he had tried, without success, to phone Button for over 24 hours.

[ales]

Richards threateninglegal action

[crayzayjay]

JB's gonna have to deal with a lot of hostility til the end of the season and i dont envy him one bit...









Well, maybe a little bit

[Mpowered]

[quote=crayzayjay]JB's gonna have to deal with a lot of hostility til the end of the season and i dont envy him one bit...

Never thought about that. Maybe Jenson and Williams should have kept their mouths shut until after the season was over.

[l33tc4k30fd00m]

I can't help feeling slightly annoyed by all of this. I had a lot of hope for BAR and Jensen next season.

I pray BAR comes out with good drivers next season if they really do lose Button.

[crayzayjay]

I've lost most of the respect i had for him. What a shitty thing to do to DR and BAR, who rescued his F1 career. I hope Webber slaughters him next year

[Type_Race]

Very dissapointed with Button!

[zebrathree]

I am slightly annoyed at this too.

It's really pretty shitty of him to do this to DR, considering some of the stuff DR has said about JB, which I beleive was genuine and not the usual shit.

At least Head will put him in his place if he plays up.