Button Bickering Begins
Written by Josh Katinger · August 6, 2004
Just a few short hours after Jenson Button’s shocking announcement that he will drive for Williams in 2005 & 2006 the lawyers are at the ready and chomping at the bit! BAR say Jenson’s contract with Williams is invalid. Jenson’s management and Williams’ lawyers say the contract IS valid. He said, she said…
Motorsport.com: BAR shocked by Button announcement
PlanetF1.com: Battle For Button Pops Open
F1-Live.com: BAR statement on Jenson Button
GrandPrix.com: Button and Williams
Crash.net: Richards dumfounded and wants an explanation.
Here is where this is all going: a legal battle for the remainder of this season and probably into the off season to determine which party is in the right. What does this mean for the fans? Well, first of all BAR will no longer provide Jenson with the best equipment (Taku, you lucky dog). The announcement will knock all the wind from the awesome run in Germany out of the sails of everyone at BAR. Basically, the only team that was really trying to bring the fight to Ferrari’s door will now be in mental shambles. Michael Schumacher is giggling his arse off somewhere in the mountains of Switzerland right now.
Here is my question; why is BAR boss David Richards going to work so hard to retain an employee who clearly doesn’t want to work for him? Even if he can manage to legally retain Button’s services and the Williams contract is nullified, do you really think that Jenson, having made his desires known, will be motivated to perform for a team that he really didn’t want to be at? Likewise, do you think the team will support him in the same manner knowing that he was ready to jump ship on them at a moments notice? What’s the point David? He wants to leave, let him leave. Ultimately the legal crap that will come down the pike from this deal will only hurt the sport and fans.
One final important point made in the Crash.net article linked above…
“Anyone remember Adrian Newey heading to Jaguar back along?…”
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