Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0 Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Button expected to remain at BAR Jenson Button is on the verge of confirming he will stay at BAR beyond the end of the current F1 season. An announcement is expected this week that the Briton has bought himself out of a contract which would have seen him join Williams in 2006. Button is believed to be paying up to £20m to them because he feels his title ambitions are best served at BAR. Williams go into next season having split with engine provider BMW, while BAR have the full backing of Honda. Neither BAR nor Williams have made any new statement on Button's future, but it is thought he will commit to BAR on a long-term deal worth around £10m a season. If Button stays he will team up with Rubens Barrichello in 2006, with Takuma Sato making way for the former Ferrari driver. Williams chief Sir Frank Williams had insisted that Button would be held to his word to join his team. But the pair, who had a good relationship during Button's previous stint at Williams, appear to have struck a deal. Button, who got his F1 break at Williams in 2000, tried to leave BAR for his former team one year ago, but was forced to see out his contract. Since then, Honda have bought a 45% stake in BAR to prove their commitment while Williams have struggled to be competitive. Earlier this year, BMW announced it was going it alone in F1 by buying out the Sauber team, and Williams are likely to have to pay for Cosworth engines for 2006. Former Jordan F1 team owner Eddie Jordan expressed surprise at some of the figures mentioned, with some reports claiming a payment to Williams of as much as £30m. He said: "Frank Williams is not a person you tangle with easily. He sticks to his guns and is a tough negotiator and he wants Jenson in the car. "To let him go would cost good money but I can't believe it would be £30m." He added: "If I was a team manager, I would be thinking how could I possibly sign a contract with Jenson Button when seemingly every contract he does sign he no longer wants to honour "I'm sure that's not Jenson and I believe somewhere in the background there is a management or a financial issue. "But he must be very careful not to become tainted goods." I can understand why he's doing it, with BAR becoming the 'works' Honda team and Williams struggling to get a package together for next year, but its an awful lot of money. I guess no one can predict the future, but I can't help thinking he's been badly advised. I think his dad is his manager and I'm not sure that works. There have been occasions in the past where sports stars have been managed by family members and its usually asking for trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6682 Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 He's a prat..... If it was buying him out of a contract so that he could drive for McLaren I could understand it, but £20m out of his own pocket so he can drive for a team who have yet to win a race and don't currently look like doing so?? It'll serve him right if Williams get it right with Cosworth (who have a history of doing well with V8s) next year and BAR get it horribly, horribly wrong... Last year he was badly advised, agreed. This year he's acting like the kid who wants the toy he's not allowed only to change his mind now that he's got it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 He won't lose out on this deal, trust me. He'll get his £20m back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6682 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 He'll get his £20m back.... But not the respect he's lost in all of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 His ego has probably swelled by his slight margin over the two Williams drivers and came to the conclusion he'd be better off at BAR. Expect him to try to crawl back on his hands and knees come 2008. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 (edited) note the "paying up to..." bet you anything its a couple of milion this year and then IF he starts to win the rate goes up Suit all sides to inflate the actual sum Sir Frank "look - I made that idiot pay me up to £ 20 million" Button "Look, I've spent up to £ 20 million to stay with you guys" BAR "look we're going to be so good someone paid....." I doubt Button has made £ 20 million in his time in the "sport" Edited September 21, 2005 by Rob W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3355 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 I doubt Button has made £ 20 million in his time in the "sport" 36367[/snapback] Easily but not directly from his employer. Rob the money for successful drivers is in their endorsements. Sponsors pay a phenomenal amount for the right to be with drivers and someone like Button who is a relatively successful Englishman in a money rich sport (which I thought you once argued isn't really a sport???) is very successful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 haven't changed my mind see above "in the "sport"" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 I'd need to be paid to watch it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 I'd need to be paid to watch it. 36434[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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