21/05/2005
NEWS STORY
According to who you believe, Jenson button will either watch this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix dreaming of 'what might have been', or will instead disappear into the countryside on his bicycle.
The Times says that following his team's highly publicized exclusion from this weekend's race - the Englishman will watch the race on TV:
"Button came closer than most last year in a dramatic finale as he chased down the Renault of Jarno Trulli and finished no more than a car's length behind the Italian. But today, Button will be a spectator, forced to watch qualifying for tomorrow's race on the widescreen television in his apartment, an ear-splitting few yards from the cars as they wind around Monte Carlo harbour."
However, according to its 'sister paper, The Sun: "The British ace will watch the race with friends from the roof of one of the luxury apartments here."
"Any driver would be devastated to miss Monaco because it's a race everyone wants to win," it quoted the BAR star as saying. "I love racing here and, while we finished second last year, I believe we could have won it this time.
"But there is no point in dwelling on the issue. We just have to accept things and move on," he added. "I won't be in the paddock on race day but I will be watching with friends and family. It's going to be difficult but the positive thing is that it will fire me up more for the next race."
Whilst Reuters reports team boss Nick Fry as saying: "None of us are going to be here on Sunday because we don't need to be for the race and Jenson is going to be off training in the mountains."
"That's his plan," he added, "he's going to be off cycling."
"Button had intended to watch the race in his apartment with friends and family but changed his mind after visiting the paddock," adds Reuters.