CRB acknowledges Button-BAR contract

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The BAR team released a statement on Tuesday, saying that the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) has acknowledged their contract with driver Jenson Button for next year

According to a BAR press release, the CRB has "acknowledged, in writing, that, as of today, the BAR Contract with Jenson Button is the only valid contract registered for the 2005 season."

The exact implications of the statement remain unclear. BAR also pointed out that all teams are bound by the procedures of the CRB which require any new driver contract to be registered 'forthwith' i.e. immediately, and without delay, in order to establish its validity.

Williams announced last week that Button will be driving for them next season, despite BAR’s insistence that the British driver is still contracted to them for 2005.

BAR’s statement in full:
"The FIA Contract Recognition Board acknowledged, in writing, that, as of today, the BAR Contract with Jenson Button is the only valid contract registered for the 2005 season.

"A driver's "super license" - his right to drive in Formula 1 - is only valid if his contract has been lodged with and registered by the CRB and all driver contracts contain a provision submitting all priority disputes to the CRB.

"The CRB was established in 1992 to regulate driver contracts and resolve priority disputes where a driver enters into a new contract with a Formula 1 team when a clearly established and registered contract is already in existence. The purpose of the CRB is to enforce driver contracts and provide a swift international resolution to conflicts which if channelled through national legal systems could be drawn-out and could result in a wholly inappropriate remedy for the innocent party and for the sport as a whole.

"All signatories to the Concorde Agreement are bound by the procedures of the CRB which requires any new driver contract to be registered 'forthwith' i.e. immediately, and without delay, in order to establish its validity.

"BAR has willingly submitted itself to this process which is final and binding on all parties."
Click to expand...

There it is!
 
Whether he still stays at BAR is another thing. One thing for sure is that if Williams want him, they are going to have to cough up big time.
 
Yes, Williams could buy him off BAR but they'd have to spend an awful lot. Proably more that it's worth for '05.
 
Williams answer is that the CRB acknowledged receipt of BAR documents. that's quite a different thing.

Furthermore, they stated that they don't see the CRB as the final authority on the matter, so this will most likely end in court (once they agreed on who has the authority...)

Poor Dave... it hurts being ditched like that, doesn't it?

I feel sorry for the team though, moslty for Geoff Willis and Honda engineers, who don't deserve this after such a year.
 
Woo, we have like, 3 button threads o_O If we believe the BAR press release then it's all over, and perhaps Williams made a mistake in their timing, but they still seem sure of having Button. Hungary might reveal more - namely animosity.
 
This is pretty meaningless, as there's no comment from the CRB as to what's actually IN the contract. It's worth noting that Williams also indicated they have acknowledgement of a late 2002 contract of option over Button's services.

This ain't gonna be wrapped up any time soon.
 
Yes you're right, this wont end with the CRB. It will probably be drawn out 'till almost the end of the season.

Button really has no say in the matter from now on does he?
 
if button doesn't want to be at BAR then BAR really shouldn't hold him back. There's little point in having a driver that doesn't want to be there
 
Even if Button is forced to stay at BAR I doubt he will give 110% while driving a car that he doesnt want to be in for a team that he doesnt want to be part of.
He will most likely sit out 2005 if hes not in a williams.
 
Yep. There's really no logic in trying so hard to keep a driver that clearly does not want to be on your team. Sure Jenson has had a good season so far and will probably continue and have a good season next year. But if the driver has no desire to be with BAR... then they should simply let him go. I think BAR should respect Button's desire to be World Champion. If he truely feels that Williams will provide him with the drive to claim the title... that's his call. And that's not going to change.

BAR is probably better off signing a new, upcoming, talented driver that they have strong faith in and build the team around him. But the harsh reality that comes with that is that they'll be back at square 1 again.
 
Exactly, sure they could bring in an up and comming talent but they have made so much progress with Button and it would be dissapointing for them to be another Jordan type team.

If Button doesn't want to be there he wont be able to drive well -- sure he'll try his hardest but it won't be what he can do in a team that he wants to be in. I believe that the drivers confidence in what he's driving is far more likely to help him race than what he's actually driving. Presuming it holds together.
 

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