Speaking to Donald McRae in The Guardian, former BAR boss, David Richards, now fully ensconced back at Prodrive, masterminding the Subaru WRC team and the TV rights to the series, has admitted that he would have liked to spend another couple of years at Brackley.

"Emotionally, I wish I had another few years to finish the work we'd begun," he says. "British American Tobacco, the previous owners, had given my company (Prodrive) a contract to lift the team into a position where we challenged for the championship. We had a five-year plan to do that and ended up doing it in three.

"That gives me enormous satisfaction," he continues, "and we're obviously very pleased and proud. But I knew the terms of our contract, once we transformed the team it would be sold to another company and our deal would terminate. As in so many business takeovers the new owners wanted to put their own people in place."

Richards was effectively shown the door in the wake of Honda's purchase of 45% of the team, ironically his place is taken by his former Prodrive employee, Nick Fry.

The precise reason why Honda wanted Richards out will probably never be known. True, he had taken the team to runner-up spot in the constructors' championship. However, there had long been whispers from within the team that many were incensed that Richards' heart lay with Rallying, and that he saw F1, and thereby BAR, merely as a job.

Then, of course, there was the Jenson Button debacle.

"You'll have to ask Honda," he says. "But the reality is if you buy a business you invariably replace the figurehead. I understand that.

"We've had situations in rallying where there have been contractual disputes with drivers," he continues, referring to 'Buttongate', "but normally they don't unfold so publicly or end up in court."

"It was a little disappointing," he says of the fact that the first he knew of Button's intention to leave BAR for williamsF1, was courtesy of a fax from the English driver's, then, manager, John Byfield. "I called Frank Williams directly to find out what was happening. It's interesting that between me and Frank there are no grudges. I was in Detroit last week when he rang to congratulate me on my CBE. We had a long chat and agreed to have lunch. I respect what he's achieved and we have a reasonable working relationship."

And Button?

"Let's wait and see what the future holds," he says. "Last year we were flattered by the failure of other teams to perform, and that takes nothing away from our hard work. I expect McLaren, with a strong driver line-up, will show huge improvement, while Williams have all that great history and BMW's resources. But BAR have extraordinary potential over the next few years with the talented people they've got there, and now with the support of Honda. If it's put together correctly there's every reason to believe they can win the world championship in another three years."

But can Button be the man to lift the crown?

"In the right circumstances, with the right support, then Jenson can do it. Most certainly," he replies.

Though Richards has only been out of F1 less than two months, there is already talk that he could be on his way back. In the meantime he has plenty to keep him busy, not least his new Aston Martin Racing team, which is seeking glory at Le Mans.

Would he consider a return to the snake-pit that is the F1 paddock?

"I'm not losing sleep over it," he says, "but if the right circumstances arose for me to return I'd certainly consider it.

"I suspect I will," he adds, after a few moments. "Here's to third time lucky."