Who saw that one coming?
Apparently JB got his lawyer to break the news to BAR rather than doing it face to face, and BAR are sharpening their legal pencils to contest the move.
I always understood JB to be on loan to BAR from Williams with whom he had his primary contract, but what do I know?
That would put JB in partnership with Webber - could that be a happy combo?
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Who saw that one coming?
Me, and my brother, actually. ;-) (True)
We also predicted DC to BAR - Hobson's choice, we thought - and thought Mika H had no chance of return to a top flight F1 team. If today's rumour mill is to believed though, we may be proven wrong on this point, with MH going to BAR and DC in limbo. If I was Dave Richards, lost the battle to keep JB*, and all other things were equal, I would hire MH over DC any day, and take the risk that he is fresh back from retirement and a family man.
*From known public facts today, I think BAR will lose, with payment of a penalty by Williams instead, because EU Free Trade rules will prevail over the Contracts Recognition board.
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I always understood JB to be on loan to BAR from Williams with whom he had his primary contract, but what do I know?
I think JB's *loan* was when he was seconded to Benetton.
Personally I think he's daft going back to Williams. JB, with the help of Honda and the rest of the team have turned BAR into a competitive challenger for Ferrari this year. Something that JV failed to do.
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I think theres goings to be fair few £'s extra in his pay packet next year at Williams.
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I too think that JB is making the mistake of his life. I met Richards and Button at Goodwood Festival of Speed when they decided to join up a few years ago, and I thouhgt at the time that it was the perfect partnership - Richards and Button looked like they would work well together.
Button was badly let down in 2001 by Williams - just because Montoya came along, didn't mean that they had to let down another driver! As it stands, Button is leaving a stable potential winning car for a team that is up in the air and losing its direction.
(I'm a Ferrari fan - and have been for a long time, so I'm pleased as anything that unsettles the competition is good)
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Is this the same Jenson Button who said in the past year & it was shown live on ITV " Im happy at BAR & I would like to help build the team up & win the drivers championship with them then go back to Williams "
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Maybe he thinks he can still win this years championship! :-)
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If Jenson is going to Williams, Will BAR give him any of the latest development parts for the car, or will Takuma get them all?
Jenson, Leaving BAR to go to Williams will be the biggest mistake you ever make.
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Jenson, Leaving BAR to go to Williams will be the biggest mistake you ever make.
I think you could be right there, in fact, I even hope you are just a bit because I think the way JB is reported to have done it is shameful and cowardly.
Dave Richards did not deserve that.
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I wonder if Jensons leaving because he wants a pay rise???
I hope Mika Hakkinen gets the BAR drive if he wants to return to F1.
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Button has to do what he thinks is best for himself, whether he is proved right or wrong. If BAR decided somebody else could do the job better he would be out on his ear double quick.
Loyalty is a two way thing, and there is none in any of the major sports these days. Football managers bleat about loyalty from their players then jump ship themselves the moment a better offer comes along. All JB is doing is looking after No1, which is the way to survive when it's dog eat dog as it definately is in F1.
Personally, I think it is a good move for him. Time will tell.
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Difficult one.
As said above no sentiment in sport, if BAR had had to do the dirty on Jenson it would have been done in just as bloodthirsty a fashion.
Press reports say Williams lawyers spent 48 hours straight mulling it over and think their case is watertight (as was the Titanic!).
BAR seem to be the coming team but remember BAT has pledged to sell by end 2006 to match the end of tobacco sponsorship in F1. No buyer on the horizon that I am aware of.
I know someone who knows Frank Williams and describes him as 'an evil b******' but then Button has reportedly had an almost father/son relationship with him, mind you that didn't stop him dropping him for Montoya who only apparently had to turn up to be world champion he was that good... not.
Difficult. Williams are notoriously stingy on drivers salaries but on the understanding that they ponied up the young Jenson has guaranteed 2 years in high wage F1 heaven and in the shiftng sands of F1 that has to count for something.
Time will tell but I wish the kid good luck.
One thing I can say, it is the most exciting thing to happen in F1 this season!
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Personally,I couldn't give 2 hoots,because F1 is boring anyhow.
The only thing the driver does now is steer the car,and even that will become obsolete.
It's about time these overpaid dorks,went back to basics and learned how to drive a car without all the electronic aids,and then we would see who the real drivers were.
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I knew Sir Frank, AKA, Francis Oliver Williams when he was 19, (I shared a flat with him and A.N.Other in Nottingham) and he could charm the birds out of the trees if he wanted to!
Even then, he was utterly single minded about motor racing and would do anything to further his ambitions in that direction. I doubt he has changed much over the years so I would guess that he wants Jenson B. because he thinks he has a good chance of helping Williams F1 Racing to get back where Frank knows they should be - at the top!
Roger. (in Spain).
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Not sure if JB has the bottle, when he came to Manila he said he'd rather drive F1 than in Manila traffic......
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Here's a thought:-
FW knows he's not likely to see Ralf driving for him again so cooks up the current scenario, believing (probably rightly) that Dave Richards will say to Jenson 'you're not driving one of my cars after that'.
Thus, Williams gets a replacement driver of his choice.
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Yeah - but in F1 they are all heading in the same direction...
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>>I doubt he has changed much over the years
Some years ago I used to live next door to him near Goring. He hadn't changed then.
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"I know someone who knows Frank Williams and describes him as 'an evil b******'
Er, Damon Hill? Nigel Mansell?
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Button has to do what he thinks is best for himself, whether he is proved right or wrong.
As does everyone else in this life. Well said, Tom.
--
L'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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Jenson has stated he is not making more money, he is going to Williams because he believes he can win the championship with them. He has been to see their operation.
One thing that is not clear is how long BAR has been talking to Mika, or to what effect. If Button found out by a leak that his position was not what he thought it was, that could explain the sudden change in his attitude.
Teams have phases, and Williams is due to come back to the top; it's seemingly hard to love Frank, but I do hope he is going to give Jenson a tool to make Michael think next season.
And Mika was the one to test Michael before; if he can get a good car as well, things could hop.
Anyway, it all adds to the fun for us punters.
I still love Ferrari!
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Track record (no pun intended) is key.
Sure, BAR have done better than Williams this year, but Williams have been at or near the front end of the grid for 25 or so years.
I'm slightly mystified by the loyalty point. OK, he perhaps should have fronted-up to DR himself, but if his contract allows it, why shouldn't he leave? Many of us move employers from time to time, don't we?
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EXACTLY ! F1`S A CUT THROAT BUSINESS AND HE SHOULD LOOK AFTER NUMBER 1
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Hoojafudge, please use mixed case rather than all capitals - its regarded as shouting.
Thank you.
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Hoojafudge, please use mixed case rather than all capitals -
I've already edited some of his posts - but it's getting tedious now. Far easier to delete, IMHO. DD.
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SORRY! i am a bit deaf though !
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