 BAR Move Most Likely for Button Saturday July 20th, 2002
The Briton, whose Renault team announced today he will be replaced in 2003 by test driver Fernando Alonso, has been linked in the last couple of weeks to Jaguar, Toyota, Sauber and now BAR. The Briton also has a first-options contract with WilliamsF1 that ends before 2004. Button debuted in Formula One at the start of the 2000 season, under a five-year contract with Williams. After one year, the young rookie moved to Renault on loan for two years, with Williams having the option to bring Button back for the 2003 season or release him. According to Williams sources at Silverstone two weeks ago, Button has already been released from his contract, and will be free to race elsewhere in 2003. This news, coupled with suggestions that Renault will replace Button prior to making it official, have sparked a flood of rumours on the identity of Button's future team. Button meanwhile said he will announce his new team in a week's time, most likely at the German Grand Prix. This piece of the puzzle rules out Toyota, which announced this weekend that they will not make a decision on their drivers line-up until later in August. Sauber too was ruled out, when Peter Sauber told reporters in Magny Cours that he does not have a contract with Button. And, likewise, Jaguar Boss Niki Lauda - who confirmed more than two weeks ago that they were considering Button as a replacement for Eddie Irvine - said that he will not decide on who will drive alongside Pedro de la Rosa until the car has been sorted out. "First of all we have to get the car in order, this is the number one priority," he said. "As soon as the car is getting better and we know the next steps we are going to do, then we will think about the driver situation." Which leaves British American Racing. Team boss David Richard added fuel to the rumour's fire when he avoided giving any straight reply to questions on Olivier Panis's future with the team, or to questions regarding Button. Asked during Friday's press conference whether Panis will be driving with the team next year, Richard replied: "Well, Olivier clearly has done a great job for the team and again he's here at his home event, we are looking for him to do a great job as well. ... That's part of the whole discussion we're having, with Jacques and how we move forward in the long term. I wouldn't want to commit myself now to anything definitive." Likewise, when asked whether he's held talks with Button on moving to BAR, Richards refused to rule out the possibility, only stating that "quite clearly this is not the environment where you actually disclose who you are talking to and who you are not talking to." Button and Richards know each other for several years, with Richards revealing that "he has been a pal of my son's since they were sort of 12 years old kart racing together, so I see Jenson quite regularly." But, all this remains speculative until any team makes an official announcement. And, in Formula One, everything can change and usually does.
Published at 19:54:34 GMT
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Jenson Button looks set to race for British American Racing next season, according to Paddock sources.
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