Honda and British American Racing have agreed to extend their partnership for another three years but the engine manufacturer stopped short of saying it will buy a majority stake in the Formula One team.

Honda will continue to supply the team with engines through 2007 and the new deal includes a joint chassis development programme, integrating the automaker even further into the F1 team's operations.

"In order to consistently win races in the future, we have made a new multi-year contract with BAR in which we will supply engines and conduct joint development of chassis technology," said Takanobu Ito, managing director of Honda Motor Company. "We will continue to make an utmost effort in this F1 challenge and ask for your continued support as we strive to fulfil the expectations of Honda motorsports fans worldwide."

"When I started with the team there were separate programmes going on in Japan and England," said BAR-Honda boss David Richards. "We have formed a far closer working relationship with a number of Honda engineers actually with us at the factory."

Button makes shocking move to Williams

TSN.ca Staff

8/6/2004

The Formula One "Silly Season" took a turn for the absurd on Friday following Jenson Button's shocking announcement that he was leaving BAR-Honda to rejoin BMW-Williams in 2005.

The move has delighted Williams owner Frank Williams, angered BAR-Honda boss David Richards and thrown the revolving driver's carousel into complete chaos.

"There has been a long-term relationship between the BMW WilliamsF1 Team and Jenson," said team owner Frank Williams. "We have maintained that relationship until the present day, and I am delighted that one of the most talented drivers in Formula One has accepted the opportunity to return to the team."

BAR-Honda boss David Richards says he's "absolutely astounded" to hear Button was leaving the team at the end of the season and he's threatened legal action to keep the young Brit from moving to rival Williams.



"Jenson is under contract with BAR for 2005, since we took up an option on his services only last month," said Richards. "At no time during the last few months has Jenson expressed anything other than his desire to continue working with BAR to achieve our collective goal of winning the World Championship."

In an interview with BBC Radio, Frank Williams says he received a call from Button's management team to inform them that the driver would be available in 2005 after exercising an option in his contract which allows him to leave if Honda failed to provide a long-term commitment to the team.

"[Button] has been under option to his present team BAR for some time," Williams told the BBC. "The option expired recently and Button's management called us to say that the option was no longer valid and would we be interested in his services - and of course I reacted as you might expect me to.

"I think [BAR] probably wanted to take up the option but whether they've executed or not will come out in due course," added Williams.

At the German Grand Prix, Honda announced an extension of their partnership with BAR until the end of 2007. However, the manufacturer added they would re-assess their commitment to F1 if proposed new rule changes are introduced to the sport in 2005 and 2006.

Richards believes the move is part of a bigger hidden agenda.

"About 36 hours ago we had a letter suggesting that on a very slim technicality the option (on Button) wasn't viable based upon Honda's commitment to us," he told BBC Radio.

"Obviously, this is something that is quite ridiculous and we will challenge it. You can't go through life taking advantage of legal technicalities - you have to look at the essence of an agreement."

Richards says his next priority is to address the many questions BAR-Honda employees have following the shocking news.

"I have got 400 people (at Brackley) who have worked their socks off night and day and then the guy who gets all the credit and drinks the champagne turns around and ditches them," he tells The Times newspaper.

The move marks a return for Button to the team which gave him his Formula One start in 2000. However, despite an impressive rookie campaign, he was pushed aside to make room for Juan Pablo Montoya.

After two less than spectacular seasons with Benetton/Renault, Button joined BAR-Honda last year. This year, he has emerged as the team leader in the wake of Jacques Villeneuve's departure and has been considered a legitimate challenger to Michael Schumacher on several F1 weekends this year.

"I am very pleased that I had the option to re-join the BMW WilliamsF1 Team where my Formula One career started," said Button. "I have every confidence that the massive investment in resources and the depth of talent at WilliamsF1 and BMW provides the best platform for my future ambitions to be a World Champion."

If Button's move is allowed, he will team with Australian Mark Webber at BMW-Williams next season.

Button's unexpected move will now force others to jockey for position with one of the top teams, which had been considered off limits prior to Thursday's announcement.

BAR-Honda currently have Japanese driver Takuma Sato under contract for next season.

Button's decision severely limits Jacques Villeneuve's chances of returning to Formula One next season with a top flight team. He had been considered a candidate for a return to BMW-Williams. It's highly unlikely he would be considered for the opening with BAR-Honda, a team he left on less than amicable terms last year.

Villeneuve was criticized by team boss David Richards for his high salary which he said limited the team's development resources. In the end, the Canadian opted not to race in the season ending Japanese Grand Prix after it became clear the team would sign Sato over Villeneuve for 2004.