BAR stops Davidson's Williams test

BAR test driver Anthony Davidson was due to try out for Williams at the beginning of December but BAR has put a stop to it. Williams is looking for a race driver to partner Mark Webber next year after it was deemed that Jenson Button must stay with BAR in 2005. Now, in further wrangles between the two teams, BAR is not prepared to let Davidson go.

Anthony Davidson.

Photo by LAT Photographic.

BAR was willing for Davidson to drive for Williams in 2005 if he returned to BAR in 2006, but an agreement could not be reached. "Anthony is one of the team's prime assets and we have him under long-term contract," said BAR technical director Geoff Willis in a statement.

"It is for this reason that a great deal has been invested in him over the years and whilst we are enormously keen for him to gain F1 race experience and further his career, we clearly cannot compromise the future of BAR."

"In that regard, we felt that we had reached a very good agreement with Williams whereby he could drive in 2005, but could be repatriated to BAR under certain specific circumstances for 2006. Williams have insisted on an unconditional arrangement which, unfortunately, is untenable for the team."

Williams and BAR commence their winter testing programmes at Barcelona this week, the former with Webber and Antonio Pizzonia behind the wheel and the latter with Button and Takuma Sato. Nick Heidfeld will test for Williams in December and its yet to be seen if the team will try out any one else now that Davidson is out of the picture.