17/01/2005
NEWS STORY
Whether Jenson Button moves to WilliamsF1 in 2006 will largely depend on how the BAR 007 performs in 2005.
Although the Englishman is committed to BAR for 2005, following a long, messy, scrap between the two teams and various others, it's well known that his heart is in Grove, and a return to the team that gave him his F1 break.
It was recently revealed that, once again, there is a clause in Button's contract that will leave him free to move to WilliamsF1 at the end of 2005 if certain conditions are not met. In this case, it's understood that by July 31, he must be within 70% of the championship leader's points tally - anything less, and WilliamsF1 is free to grab him for next year.
At yesterday's launch, Button was asked about the move to WilliamsF1 that never was, and whether there are any regrets as he faces another year at Brackley.
"If you want something and you don't get it of course you are not going to be 100 percent happy," he said, according to Reuters. "But I'm here for 2005 and I've got to make the best of it. We're all working towards a good year, I'm going to do the best job I possibly can. "We all want to have a great season."
As to whether he still intends joining WilliamsF1 in 2006, he said: "I'll wait until the end of the year until I start thinking about next season. We need to be focused for the whole year.
"I don't think Ferrari are going to win the championship, or anyone win the championship, by September," he added.
Meanwhile, the Englishman believes that the new rule, whereby drivers are restricted to one set of tyres per race, will suit his smooth driving style, thereby giving him an advantage.
"It's going to be very interesting because the race is not going to be a series of sprints," he told The Sun. "The limit on tyres means we are going to have to think about preserving them.
"If you have looked after your tyres, it will make a big difference in the final 10 laps," he continued. "That's one area where I feel I have an advantage because my driving has always been smooth and that will be important this year.
"Drivers used to pushing flat out for an entire race just won't be able to do that because they will ruin their tyres."
To check out our pictures of the BAR 007 click here