Jenson frank about Williams 'return'

13 April 2012

Somebody somewhere has made a dreadful mistake. According to Jenson Button, he has the legal right to demand to drive for Williams in 2003, meaning that either Ralf Schumacher or Juan Pablo Montoya - currently second and third in the championship - will be booted off the team.

"There is a misconception when it comes to the terms of my contract with Williams," insisted the 22-year-old, who is approaching the end of a two-year loan term at Renault. "It is not the case that BMW-Williams can simply be rid of me. It is I who have the option to go back - not as test driver, but as one of the two main drivers on the team. If I wanted to, I would be contractually able to do just that."

His claim seems wildly improbable. Such a contract is unknown. Button was a rookie only just out of his teens when he signed the contract in question. The idea that a team principal with the vast experience of Sir Frank Williams would have agreed to a clause allowing the least-experienced driver in town to dictate terms seems deranged. No one in the paddock has ever heard of such a thing.

So the possible scenarios are these. Either Button or his advisers have completely misunderstood what his contract says. (It was his previous management, not the incumbent version, which negotiated the deal.) Or the lawyers at Williams have somehow failed to spot the inclusion of a suspect clause. Or Team Button has decided that making this sort of public claim will somehow improve his chances of a sexy and/or lucrative drive next season, especially in the high-profile run-up to this weekend's British Grand Prix.

Certainly nothing should be read into Sir Frank's refusal to comment on Button's claims. Button could have said anything he liked about his contract with Williams and Sir Frank would still have declined to spill any public beans. It would not be his style at all to join in such a pantomime. But he will certainly be angered by Button's announcement, regardless of its accuracy.

"All contractual matters are private," said a team spokesman tightly in response. "There will be no comment until the drivers are announced."

The whole thing is fabulously unlikely, Formula One chicanery at its most melodramatic. The facts are Ralf Schumacher is contracted until the end of next season and Montoya, who took Button's seat, is presently in mid-negotiation for a two-year contract. Confirmation that he will stay is expected next month. Funnily enough, though, Button has added a handy caveat to his startling claims, insisting he is "not convinced that going back to Williams would be in my best interests".

Exactly why is a puzzle, especially since he has also said he is prepared be take a pay cut from his current annual £3 million salary if it means finding a competitive drive.

"I would rather be with a top team, be paid very little and win races rather than be with a team at the back of the grid and be paid more," he has said.

Taking a pay cut is a near-certainty if he goes back to Williams, since Sir Frank's parsimony is the stuff of legend. The examples are legion, but after Jacques Villeneuve won the world drivers' title in a Williams in 1997, he was required to take a pay cut from £5m to £3.5m if he wanted to stay with the team for 1998. Hence his decision to depart for British American Racing on a starting salary of £8m was something of a no-brainer.

Prudently, Button is still making lots of enthusiastic noises about Renault with whom he has had a far more fruitful time this year than last, capturing 10 of their 14 points to date. But he is still expected to be replaced by current test driver Fernando Alonso, although Jaguar are also interested in the Spaniard.

Coincidentally, Button has also had talks with Jaguar, but if a competitive car is truly what he is after then he will need Jaguar to improve their desperate R3 car beyond recognition for next year. Toyota are also thought to have expressed interest in the Monaco-based Briton, with Allan McNish's prospects there thought to be sadly unpromising.

"I've enjoyed my time at Renault enormously, contrary to popular belief," said Button. "When you look at the job you look at the money, but you have to look at the enjoyment you get out of it as well. Winning races is the most important thing. All these rumours won't affect me. It's not a distraction. It's enjoyable and quite good fun.

"I am not worried where I will be next year. There will be no serious discussions until after Silverstone, which is my favourite grand prix. We will know more then.

"I can only do my best on the circuit. It has been a very positive year for me in every respect. I am not in the worst position in F1 as a driver. I am in talks with Frank Williams right now, but I'm also talking to Renault and I have two other offers to consider as well. I have options."

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Jenson frank about Williams 'return'

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