Button confident of Williams move

The Jenson Button/BAR/Williams saga is still rolling on and Williams has now lodged its contract with Button with the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) in regard to the 2005 season and beyond. It seems that Williams did not act until now as they were trying to find a solution without resorting to the CRB.

Jenson Button.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

The situation has been at a stalemate recently, with both Williams and BAR convinced they have secured Button's services for 2005. It will now be up to the CRB to decide the outcome.

Button spoke to the press in London today and does not think BAR has a claim on him. "I don't understand why he (BAR boss David Richards) is saying that because we are pretty sure I am going to be racing for BMW-Williams next year," he said. "I think the CRB will understand our position and we will be there next year."

"I wouldn't be going through all of this if I didn't think it was possible. It's never 100% certain but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be with BMW-Williams next year. I would rather it had been a lot easier, I don't really like the way it has been handled at all. It's not a nice position to be in."

He said that BAR had offered him more money to stay but money isn't a good enough reason: "I don't think BAR is the right place to be next year because I don't think they will be able to challenge for the championship," he stated.

"We had an agreement to be with BAR for two years, I honoured that agreement and I think I did a good job. I think I have been a big bonus for the team. I'm sure they'll have a good year next year but for me I need to move on and be with a team that can challenge for the championship over the next two years."

Button revealed that he had not been happy at BAR for some time: "Contractually we had some differences, we had some issues. That was at the end of 2003. It hasn't been resolved," he revealed.

"One of the reasons why I want to move on is because I am not 100% happy at the team, and one of the reasons I've not been happy is that there are issues with the contract. We've tried to resolve them but to no avail."

Button has always maintained that his reason for choosing Williams is because he believes the team can give him the best chance to win the title. "The resources they have, compared to most Formula One teams it's staggering," he said.

"For me to move to BMW-Williams is purely because I think the team will give me a bigger chance of challenging for the world championship and that's the reason I have made the move."