Buttongate II

[dando]

Here we go again....as the Button Turns:

http://speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/18497/


In what has already been dubbed “Buttongate II”, the Briton wants to stay at the Honda-powered squad next year in spite of having signed a contract to be at Williams in 2006.

If he keeps this up, he'll be as popular as JV in the paddock. :shakehead

-Kevin

[formulaben]

Here we go again....as the Button Turns:

http://speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/18497/



If he keeps this up, he'll be as popular as JV in the paddock. :shakehead

-Kevin

Or it's just a simple but effective way to get your name in the press, when race results clearly aren't working...

[dando]

Sir Frank sez no way, Jensen:

http://speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/18517/

-Kevin

[oddlycalm]

OK, now Button has called BS and has gone public with details of the arrangements rather than take the negative press generated from the statements Frank Williams has made. As always, two sides to every story. If Button's story is to be believed, and his attorney has issued a detailed enough statement that he would be risking libel if it weren't, then Williams' remark were less than candid.

In the statement, Button claimed Williams had paid him from 2000 to 2004 in order for the Briton not to enforce a contract which he had with the team and which entitled him to drive for them.

"Jenson has decided to release this statement as various allegations have been appearing in the media over the past few days casting doubts on his honesty and integrity," the statement read.

"Jenson is particularly upset at suggestions that he did not accord Sir Frank Williams the respect due to him by not speaking to him face to face.

"The following factual statements are made to set the record straight: a meeting took place in the Conference Room at Williams' Grove Headquarters at 12 o'clock on Tuesday 12 July 2005. This meeting was attended by Jenson personally, together with his Manager, Richard Goddard.

"On the Williams side the meeting was attended by Sir Frank Williams, together with Patrick Head, as well as the Williams Chief Executive Officer Chris Chapple, the Williams Technical Director Sam Michael, and the Williams In-House lawyer John Healey.

"The meeting lasted about one hour. During the course of the meeting Sir Frank Williams asked Jenson a specific question 'From what you are saying it sounds like you don't want to be here next season'. To this Jenson replied 'No, I don't'.

"There is no question of there being any lack of clarity or misunderstanding on this point. It has been suggested by Sir Frank Williams that a contract between Jenson and Williams (and there remain outstanding questions as to its validity) was signed seven months ago, which would be in January of this year.

"This is incorrect. There are two documents which are relevant, one dated August 2004, and one dated September 2004.

"Quotes have also been attributed in the media to Sir Frank Williams to say that Williams paid a substantial amount in option money on Jenson in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Again, to set the record straight, the facts are as follows: Payments made were not payments made by Williams to retain an option over Jenson's services.

"In fact the payments were quite the opposite. They were payments made by Williams to Jenson in exchange for Jenson agreeing not to enforce a contract which he had entitling him to drive for Williams."

oc

[formulaben]

That certainly give some insight to the interesting contract arrangements in F1. I had always thought that Jenson was signed to a cheap, but long term deal and was "on loan" to Benetton and then BAR until his triumphant return. At least that's the way it has been implied in certain press accounts.

[oddlycalm]

I had always thought that Jenson was signed to a cheap, but long term deal and was "on loan" to Benetton and then BAR until his triumphant return. At least that's the way it has been implied in certain press accounts. Yep, and we can be sure that's because Frank Williams and Patrick Head portrayed it that way to the media. Last year the contract recognition board (or whatever it's called) ruled against Williams, and it's becoming more clear why that happened. It appears that it's not so much that Button is a frigging idiot as much as he's been jerked around for half a decade by a dithering Williams team.

oc

[TedN]

BAR can have Button, but ... (http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=1&nid=117774)

Ted

:eek:

[cameraman]

As a group these people have lost their minds.

[fourrunner]

As a group these people have lost their minds.

You got that right!! :eek:

[Cam]

Sooooo,....... To sum it all up..... BAR have JB and RB under contract for next season.... Personally I would rather have Sato. Yep he has had a bad year but I think he has more guts than the other 2 combined!

[coolhand]

i want button to get the worst possible deal out of this.

if you are going to act like a spoiled snob in a high stakes game, expect to get burned

[coolhand]

BAR can have Button, but ... (http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=1&nid=117774)

Ted

:eek:

50 million pounds will help replace the lost mfc. resources.

I hope williams-cosworth does well.

[Easy]

I'm sorry but Boyband isn't that good.

If it was RHR I would understand...

:p

[oddlycalm]

Well it's a done deal and Button is staying at BAR and Williams gets a big wad of cash. Is anyone really surprised...?
Buttongate II over (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/formulaone/auto/19671/)

oc