Button keeps his race seat at BAR...
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Button to Stay at BAR Next Season
- By Anthony Rowlinson Monday, 19 September 2005 13:28
Jenson Button will drive for BAR-Honda next season after agreeing a substantial multi-million pound figure for a multi-year deal that releases him from his commitments to Williams, Autosport can exclusively reveal.
The agreement was signed last Friday, after Williams accepted cash in lieu of Button's services, and will keep him with the team which he has driven for since 2003.
Neither BAR nor Williams, which have fought over Button since July 2004, would comment, but an announcement is expected on Wednesday.
Williams have always maintained publicly that no negotiation over Button's contract would be possible and that he would have to drive for the team in
2006 and 2007.
But over the past two months, a series of talks have been held between Sir Frank Williams, team chief executive Chris Chapple and Button's management team, which has the backing of BAR-Honda.
It is understood Button, as the party in breach of his contract, will have to pay Williams not to drive for the team. BAR-Honda are likely to compensate him for the loss over coming seasons, however.
Button has been at the centre of a protracted tug-of-love between Williams and BAR for the past 18 months, since the so-called 'Button-gate' saga first broke.
Last October, BAR retained Button after he had spoken publicly of his desire to leave for Williams. This year the situation has been reversed.
Williams, who gave Button his Formula One debut in 2000, held a contractual option over him which they claimed obliged him to drive for the team in 2006.
Under the terms of the contract, Button would have had to score 75 percent of the 2005 Championship leader's points by August 21, in order not to be bound by his Williams obligations.
His failure to do so gave Williams what it claimed was a binding hold on Button for 2006.
Button maintained, however, that he did not want to drive for Williams and that he would try to negotiate a release from the deal.
Button's manager Richard Goddard declined to comment
- By Anthony Rowlinson Monday, 19 September 2005 13:28
Jenson Button will drive for BAR-Honda next season after agreeing a substantial multi-million pound figure for a multi-year deal that releases him from his commitments to Williams, Autosport can exclusively reveal.
The agreement was signed last Friday, after Williams accepted cash in lieu of Button's services, and will keep him with the team which he has driven for since 2003.
Neither BAR nor Williams, which have fought over Button since July 2004, would comment, but an announcement is expected on Wednesday.
Williams have always maintained publicly that no negotiation over Button's contract would be possible and that he would have to drive for the team in
2006 and 2007.
But over the past two months, a series of talks have been held between Sir Frank Williams, team chief executive Chris Chapple and Button's management team, which has the backing of BAR-Honda.
It is understood Button, as the party in breach of his contract, will have to pay Williams not to drive for the team. BAR-Honda are likely to compensate him for the loss over coming seasons, however.
Button has been at the centre of a protracted tug-of-love between Williams and BAR for the past 18 months, since the so-called 'Button-gate' saga first broke.
Last October, BAR retained Button after he had spoken publicly of his desire to leave for Williams. This year the situation has been reversed.
Williams, who gave Button his Formula One debut in 2000, held a contractual option over him which they claimed obliged him to drive for the team in 2006.
Under the terms of the contract, Button would have had to score 75 percent of the 2005 Championship leader's points by August 21, in order not to be bound by his Williams obligations.
His failure to do so gave Williams what it claimed was a binding hold on Button for 2006.
Button maintained, however, that he did not want to drive for Williams and that he would try to negotiate a release from the deal.
Button's manager Richard Goddard declined to comment
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Good point 
Alot of people think he should be held to his former contract at Williams, I personally think he should too -- but with all the changes at Williams, I'd hate to see talent like Button's wasted at Williams when they are in for some rough times.
Especially since, with Honda's purchase into BAR, I can see BAR challanging Renault & McLaren within the next year at a much higher level. Hopefully.
Alot of people think he should be held to his former contract at Williams, I personally think he should too -- but with all the changes at Williams, I'd hate to see talent like Button's wasted at Williams when they are in for some rough times.
Especially since, with Honda's purchase into BAR, I can see BAR challanging Renault & McLaren within the next year at a much higher level. Hopefully.
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From: Toronto & FnF ssauga
Button and Barrichello for 2006 means Sato is jobless,
Nick will be at BMW for 2006, meaning Webber Pizzonia or Rosberg for the Williams seat..
$40million usd in compensation is something Frank Williams won't turn down.. unfortuantely i dont' know what kind of hit this means financially for BAR honda.. yes, fine they retain Button, but the deal is a huge financial consideration..
Nick will be at BMW for 2006, meaning Webber Pizzonia or Rosberg for the Williams seat..
$40million usd in compensation is something Frank Williams won't turn down.. unfortuantely i dont' know what kind of hit this means financially for BAR honda.. yes, fine they retain Button, but the deal is a huge financial consideration..
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From: Mish-she-gan
Jenson Button's price tag per GP.com:
Our spies tell us that Williams has sold Jenson Button his freedom and he will remain at BAR-Honda next year. This is reasonable enough, except that the figure of $18m which we have heard does not seem to be anywhere near the kind of money needed to do the deal.
We believe the figure is more likely to be in the region of $30m.
However it would not be a surprise if this deal was now completed and if that is the case we would expect some kind of announcement at the weekend in Brazil. There is no point in trying to hold on to the news, particularly as there appear to be leaks everywhere.
BAR-Honda wants to pay Button something in the region of $88m in the course of the next five years, so even allowing for the transaction with Williams Button is going to come away around $50m richer in the overall scheme of things.
Our spies tell us that Williams has sold Jenson Button his freedom and he will remain at BAR-Honda next year. This is reasonable enough, except that the figure of $18m which we have heard does not seem to be anywhere near the kind of money needed to do the deal.
We believe the figure is more likely to be in the region of $30m.
However it would not be a surprise if this deal was now completed and if that is the case we would expect some kind of announcement at the weekend in Brazil. There is no point in trying to hold on to the news, particularly as there appear to be leaks everywhere.
BAR-Honda wants to pay Button something in the region of $88m in the course of the next five years, so even allowing for the transaction with Williams Button is going to come away around $50m richer in the overall scheme of things.
