10/08/2004
NEWS STORY
At a time when sections of the media appear to be taking sides in the Button/BAR/WilliamsF1 saga - seemingly fed, then redistributing, information from relevant interested parties - The Daily Telegraph has the assurance of Honda Racing's vice-president, Otmar Szafnauer, that one of the supposed loopholes that Button's management took full advantage of, had been covered.
He refers to a clause in the English driver's contract that apparently demanded confirmation of a new engine deal. Mr Szafnauer insists that Button's manager, John Byfield of Essentially Sport, had been given assurances of Honda's commitment to BAR on two occasions, and that Byfield had accepted these assurances.
"We were shocked and surprised," admits Szafnauer. "We thought he would be racing for BAR next season.
"We gave Jenson's management all the reassurance they had asked for," he continues. "When we asked if the answers provided were what he was looking for, they answered yes. We were aware that other teams were showing interest in Jenson. That was only natural. We told him that we were committed to providing engines for BAR and no other team. And they said that was what they wanted to hear. Two weeks later, on July 23, we announced the new deal with the team.
"We respect Jenson for his talent," adds Szafnauer. "We have a great relationship with him. That is why we thought we had a basis from which to go forward."