Button progress in Williams talks

Jenson Button claims his attempts to escape from his Williams contract in 2006 are progressing positively – and has targeted a resolution before the end of the season.

The 25-year-old signed a multi-year deal with Williams last year after failing in his bid to switch from BAR-Honda for this season.

Now he has had a dramatic change of heart and wants to remain with BAR, prompting behind-the-scenes talks with Frank Williams to extricate himself from a contract he admits was a “mistake“.

Talks have continued in the run up to this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and Button today reported positive progress towards a compromise.

BAR have hinted they would be prepared to contribute financially to persuade Williams to release Button, while the Englishman’s legal advisors have explored ways of declaring the deal void.

Button said: “We are still talking so the situation’s good but I can’t say anything else.

“We’ve talked, yes. I think that it’s going in the right direction – I think it’s going in the right direction for both of us.”

Button is keen for the issue to be resolved quickly, unlike last year’s predicament which dragged on right until the final race of the season.

Button’s plans for 2006 will depend on which team he is driving for, while Williams have even greater pressure to reach a resolution as they will need to secure a second driver should Williams relent.

“It’s better for everyone if it gets sorted out soon sooner rather than later,” Button said. “We both need this cleared up as soon as possible, we both need this sorted out before the end of the year so we can concentrate on next season.”

This year’s contract row has been conducted largely away from the glare of publicity, and without the acrimony between driver and team which characterised his spat with BAR in 2004.

Button claims he has learnt from his actions last season, when he rounded on then-BAR boss David Richards.

“It is definitely more amicable this time,” he said. “I think a lot of that’s down to me making a mistake last year in not talking to DR [Richards].

“The way I went about it this year has been much better. The conversations we have had have been very good.”

But the former Williams and Renault driver’s frosty relationship with Richards still rankles.

The Brackley-based BAR team have failed to live up to their 2004 performances this year, dropping from second to seventh in the constructors’ championship. But any suggestion that Richards’ winter departure contributed to that decline receives short shrift.

“He didn’t design the car,” Button said. “Nick Fry [chief executive] was doing a lot of the ground work anyway.

“DR was definitely the front man but we needed a guy that was there 24-7 for the team and not doing other bits and pieces as well. Nick is doing a fantastic job, for me everyone is a lot closer. There is definitely a good spirit.”