holy crap, i never saw it coming!!! (Button)

[sharkie17]

He made a big move to Williams!!!

wow, i never saw him leaving BAR Honda. (at least for another year)

[Guest]

Holy Crap is right! I just saw the feauture story and my jaw dropped, I thought for sure he was in tight with BAR Honda!

In my opinion, Williams might have the best driver combination outside of Ferrari for '05!

[Guest]

hello, aren't we forgetting mclarens driver lineup for 2005, Kimi and Montoya?

[dcdabest]

It seems it is not certain that BAR will let Button go to Williams yet. But even so, one has to wonder why Jenson would risk it. Williams probably are going to be stronger next season and there is reason to believe BAR will be not so competitive. They will not benefit from the friday third driver like they have this year, and perhaps their performance is a fluke...

If Richards does still have an option on Jenson then he will not be very popular to the team's personnel next year.

I would expect the McLaren driver to be stronger next year. Both Kimi and Juan have outperformed very good team-mates, whereas Webber, and to some extent, Button have had it easy.

I hope he does go to Williams, it would be great to see a fierce McLaren, Williams, Ferrari battle next year!

[marcush.]

if this is a smart move only time will tell.For BAR it´s a huge blow,as jim was the right leading figure for them and will not b easy to substitute.Maybe davidson can rise to the occasion.Sato will certainly up his game now.
I fear Button made the move at least one year early as I donot see a chance for williams to be second next year.

[sharkie17]

either way, i see trouble ahead for JB with BAR Honda... relationship can only get rockier as the season winds down.

[Aradea]

How the hell that JB even consider to go back to Williams next year ?!!
I'm really pissed off cosI'm a Huge BAR fan !
How can he be sure that williams are going to give him a good car next year when on this year "the White Walrus" often can't even make it to podium ???!!
BAR smoked Williams by a mile away on every race, is the boy blind or just really stupid ?!!
Who got him his first podium ? who got him his first runner up place ? who got him the car that make Schumi work for his races ?!
Dave Richards said that this year BAR will challenge for a regular podioum places and he gave Button just that.. and if DR said that next year he will gave JB a car that can win regularly, then I will believe every word he said !!

If he does go to Williams next year, then he will dissapoint every person who worked very hard for him this year. I can't imagine the feelings of the people in Brackley....

DAMN you Button !! I had a lot of faith in you...

[hudsonhawk]

Dammm, thought u were talking about the bus !!!

Sharkie Shark......brother......we have common ground . A big shock it was. Personally i think he has pushed the wrong Button. Why he would eject out of the BAR and into Jewilliam is crazy, if you base this on this years performances. Honda are only getting stronger and stronger. But as some have already said, it remains to be seen whether this is going to be a good move. It obvious who will be the favourite in this camp.

Catchya on the highway
The Bus Driver

[bernard]

I think it's definately a smart move.
Williams have proved to be a team capable taking the world championship, whereas bar's rise to success is very quick. Nothing will ensure they will get a good car next year too. I think it's smart to switch to a "sure" team.
Maybe the guys at bar will start to think too much of themselves(as they surely have) and then will be surprised to see Mclaren and Williams making cars that are their usual speed, and bar's best chance of a fourth place next season is some crashing among the top three teams.
Anyway this would strengthen the rumours of Hakkinen making a return in BAR, as it was repoted he was going to replace Sato, but now it seems BAR has an open seat for a number one driver, which Sato for sure is not.

[uzael]

Personally, I think it's a bad move for button, both career wise and politically. Leaving an up and coming team like BAR who have the massive Honda juggernaut behind them could prove to be bad news indeed. Williams have realistically not impressed me for the past several years. 2003 was more of a result of bstone and ferrari getting it wrong than it was of williams doing it right. Williams did just good enough to stay in the fight, but in reality it was a fluke effort. Also with BMW making nosies every now and then about leaving the sport, I wouldn't bet on them making F1 a long term priority.

If I were DR or the staff at BAR I wouldn't have button back even if the old contract holds water. He betrayed the team with this sort of backrooms action. Whether he feels justified in it or not, he's really screwed the team who turned him from almost a footnote in F1 history to a man that could someday challenege for the WC.

[tsaki]

perhaps some of their top technicians are being seriously courted by the top teams,, maybe

[Aradea]

It was/will be a definite bad move for JB to leave BAR at the moment.. What I mean is, if he leaves BAR for Ferarri/McLaren maybe it will be worth it, but to leave a rising team like BAR for an adequate team like Williams is "unrealistic"..
Don't get me wrong, Williams is a big team. but from the way they perform from the last two years is just not reflecting the reputation that it is.
Uzael was right, look at Williams now, they even can't make it into the top three... the development of the FW26 di not reflect into the track on Sunday, the only advantage of their car is only the BMW engine. the Walruses chassis is really poor (for a big team standards), I'm pretty sure that Patrick Head or Gavin Fisher has runnin out of ideas how to build a better car. all PH can do is imitate the BAR 006's every development..( look at the vertical fences at the start of the season).

Jense, you're so naive..... I'll be laughing next season if BAR 007 overlap your FW27
that's if JB decides to go there

[Steven]

not sure.... I think Richards has some tricks up the sleeve.
I also think Jenson isn't very wise to switch now, what is wrong with BAR anyway? They've got an astounding engine, an aerodymically good car, ....

Probably the money then? Well I hope they keep him at BAR, as that would leave an option for Jacques Villeneuve whom I would really love to see back!!

[ReubenG]

I disagree with the statement that BAR's rise has been quick - they've been plugging away for a few years. I think Button's decent results last year were overshadowed by harsh words from an un-named past champion, who has done little since.

I do feel that JB has done his team and himself a serious disservice - I think that some of BAR's success this year can be attributed to general consistency and the lack of infighting that the team suffered from previously. Causing up heaval at this time does not bode well.

[sharkie17]

And the drama begins!!!!

it seems as tho Richards is FURIOUS!!

Button has til the closing of business day on monday to meet with the BAR executives... if not, then Richards will enforce the contract legally.


Fun Fun!!!!

(its really sad that we get more exciting F1 action OFF the track rather than ON it)