Friday June 9th, 2000

Williams have dismissed reports that a decision has already been made to replace Jenson Button with Juan Pablo Montoya as "pure speculation."

Button is on a five-year contract with Williams. It has been suggested that Button will be loaned to another Formula One team if Montoya takes his seat at Williams, with Jordan, Jaguar and BAR being the leading candidates.

However, Williams have insisted that Button's future is not under consideration until Montoya's team boss Chip Ganassi decides whether to release him from his Champ Car contract at the end of the month.

"The report is pure speculation," said a Williams spokesman of the story in Thursday's Autosport magazine. "The situation is still the same. Both Frank Williams and Patrick Head (technical director) have said that no decision will be taken until they have heard from Chip Ganassi."

Williams have been impressed with Button, scoring three points in seven races, and outqualifying teammate Ralf Schumacher twice. However, some people believe that Montoya would be matching Schumacher or even beating him.

"Everyone has been writing that Frank and Patrick are looking for someone who can run Ralf close. That's rubbish. They're looking for someone who can blow him away. That might or might not be Montoya," a Williams insider is quoted as saying in Autosport.

Button is philosophical about his future in Formula One, and can see that it may not be with Williams. "I hope I will be driving the FW23 next year, but I haven't got a clue," said Button. "I'm just concentrating on my job race by race and I can only do my best. I want to stay with Williams next year. I've got a good relationship with them, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."