Williams signs Button to long-term contract

BMW Williams F1 announced today that the team has signed its current #2 driver, Jenson Button, to a multi-year contract.

With the team also owning the rights to Colombian CART star Juan Pablo Montoya, speculation has been rife that Button's future with the team is in danger.

However, team principal Frank Williams decided to follow the same strategy he has successfully used in the past, and secure the rights to the young Briton, regardless of who actually occupies the driver's seat in the second Williams next year.

"If Montoya was to drive for us next season, we would ensure Jenson is loaned to another team to honour our multi-year agreement with him," said the Williams spokesperson. "It could be for one or two years and then he could come back to us -- and that is an option available to [us]."

So, in the end, Button knows he has an F1 ride for the next season -- but not necessarily the team he will be driving for.