BAR hopes to keep Button

Now we are into the summer season the driver market speculation is heating up and Jenson Button is attracting his fair share of the rumours. Many people think the Englishman is likely to head to Williams next year and he's even been linked with a move to Ferrari, but there's also the possibility that he may want to stay with BAR.

Jenson Button.

Photo by xpb.cc.

The team would certainly like to keep him. "We are very, very hopeful that Jenson is going to stay with us," BAR chief executive Nick Fry said at Silverstone. "Jenson is a bright lad. He's not looking at today, he's looking overall at the next five years."

BAR has had its difficulties so far this season but Fry is convinced things will improve and Button can win the title if he stays. "Honda have won 11 world championships and they are determined to win and we will give him the best chance of being Formula One world champion," he said.

Button had intended to return to Williams for this season but it turned out that he couldn't as BAR had first option on his services. Currently it appears that Williams has first claim on Jenson for 2006 but Fry still hopes that Button will decide to stay with BAR.

"I have no idea of the details of Jenson's contract with Williams, all we can do is convince him that we are the best place for him to be," he said. "If he wants to stay with us for the rest of his career he would be more than welcome."

"We are not just interested in Jenson's driving talents, the fact he can drive is a given," he added. "Jenson is valued as a real team member.He has managed to take a real leadership position in the team."

"This year has been the making of the man, he's someone who's got the management skills, he's got the Michael Schumacher type skills to bring leadership to the team. Jenson Button will be world champion, there's no doubt in our minds."

Button has said he's not interested in any team that cannot give him a chance of winning the title. Williams is a previous champion but has yet to confirm an engine deal for next year and is currently struggling for competitiveness. Button was convinced last year that Williams could give him the best opportunity to win but does he still think that way?