Williams hope to avoid Button legal clash with BAR

Frank Williams hopes to avert the threat of legal action after pinching Jenson Button from under the noses of BAR.

Button has signed a two-year contract with Williams after his BAR deal was apparently invalidated by a technicality.

Williams and BAR are now braced for a tug of war over the 24-year-old, with both teams claiming to have binding contracts with Button for next season.

BAR boss David Richards has vowed to take the matter to court if need be after confessing he was “astonished” to learn of his star driver’s defection.

Both Button and BAR have come of age this season and appeared set for a long and successful partnership until the emergence of a loophole in their contract.

Team boss Williams insists his contract with Button is legally sound but has expressed his wish to avoid an unsightly courtroom battle with Richards.

He said: “The first clear and unequivocal position is that we hold a contract with Jenson. It appears BAR contest this, however we are of the firm opinion that BAR lost the option to retain Jenson and I have no doubt he will be at Williams in 2005.

“One fact is not contestable, Jenson wishes and expects to drive for Williams in 2005 and 2006 and has made this intention clear. We would like to resolve this amicably – we had no wish to go public on this.”

Williams revealed Button’s management approached him once they established the BAR contract could be disregarded.

Williams, who gave Button his Formula One debut in 2000, conceded he had never even put the driver on his list of replacements for Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, believing his chances of netting the youngster to be nil.

“A few days before the German Grand Prix we were contacted by Jenson’s management,” he said. “It clearly was a great surprise.

“We are a racing team, we are competitive. This was an opportunity and being a racing team we went for it. We have no regrets about going for it.”

Button still has a long-term contract with Williams stemming from his debut season there and although he would not divulge the exact nature of that deal, Williams revealed it was a factor in the announcement.

“You might ask why an intelligent and thoughtful driver like Jenson would want to join a team fourth in the championship,” he said.

“Firstly, we maintain contractual links. Secondly he believes we can provide him with a more dependable route to his world championship ambitions at this present time.”

Richards is equally convinced he has first claim to Button’s services, calling the agreement with Williams “premature” and “invalid”.

Richards claims to have taken up his option with Button recently, tying the driver to BAR.

Now Richards – a world champion as a co-driver and team owner in rallying - has vowed to fight Williams’ attempts to prize Button from his grasp.

He said: “We are absolutely astounded to hear that Jenson thinks he is leaving BAR for Williams next season.

“Neither myself, nor any other member of the BAR team, has been contacted by Jenson to discuss this matter.

“Jenson is under contract with BAR for 2005, since we took up an option on his services only last month.

“It is our intention to enforce our current contractual position with Jenson.”