Dougie Pants

I can not belive that a driver that is becoming such a great force for BAR would leave at this time... I really thought he would have been one of the next major players in F1 with BAR

S2Thizzle

I'm so disappointed.

Marauder

Contracts don't mean much in racing, just means that Willams will probably buy out Button's contract.

Loyalty? Well, Honda didn't stay too loyal to CART. They talked the talk about wanted technology and such, but didn't take much to jump ship and build IRL engines.

Sean O'Gorman

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by speedracer33 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Was McLaren still using the Honda engines when Mika first came on board?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Huh??? McLaren stopped using Hondas after 1992. They used Ford during Mika's first year (or few races, whatever you consider it) in 1993, Peugeot in 1994, and Mercedes since 1995.

Change

i am upset that such a good driver could betray the team that did so much for him. i had been a fan of his but after this he can go to hell. there will be some good to come from this though... now sato will be more in the light and davidson may get to shine more... which would be good if he can hold it together on race day. it would have been nice if this had happend before ralf s. left williams... we could have stolen him from them... but maybe if davidson doesnt become a main driver we could get couldthard or someone else good... maybe this will turn out good for honda. i'll try to be hopfull.

now i say off with buttons head!

black3door

quote david richards, "to be treated like this is dumbfounding, blah blah blah."

yah....now you know what it's like to be shafted at the other end huh *******

i'm just the opposite. ever since DR canned JV, i've hated everyone on that team. I admit I like Button cuz of his smooth style; but i cant' bring myself to cheer for him just because he drives for DR.

Now that he's on his way out; back to cheering for JB.

BauleyCivic

So does this open up doors for Trulli at BAR?

Johnny Mac

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by black3door &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">quote david richards, "to be treated like this is dumbfounding, blah blah blah."

yah....now you know what it's like to be shafted at the other end huh *******

i'm just the opposite. ever since DR canned JV, i've hated everyone on that team. I admit I like Button cuz of his smooth style; but i cant' bring myself to cheer for him just because he drives for DR.

Now that he's on his way out; back to cheering for JB. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I tend to agree with you on Dave Richards. As far as Button is concerned, maybe there was more friction on the team then us outsiders knew about. Who knows, maybe Honda said that Sato was their number one driver and that Button should take a back seat (like Rubens does at Ferrari). Who knows, but giving JB the benefit of the doubt, he probably felt that changing teams was the right move. That said, I certainly wouldn't hold anything against JB until we know all the facts (or as much as were going to know).

Bambooseven

iTrader: (1)

That bums me out, IMHO Button has the potential to take the throne if he concentrated and fully gets rid of his star struck-ness. I would have loved to see him stay with honda/BAR. If there is another driver on the track right now that I'd say has a shot at taking the throne, it'd be Kimi. Kimi in a BAR/HONDA car in 2005 would be a beautiful combination. but I don't forsee that happening anytime soon.

williams needs a driver after losing ******* (oops, I mean montoya) and button was a damn good candidate, they are still not going to win though.

It'll be interesting to see what happens, hopefully we'll (by we I mean honda/BAR) end up with a driver that is worthy of driving for a team like that in a car like that. we'll have to wait and see.

Johnny Mac

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bambooseven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
williams needs a driver after losing ******* (oops, I mean montoya) and button was a damn good candidate, they are still not going to win though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You never know in F1, fortunes can change in a one race period. Just look at McLaren's season. First ten races they should been called McMinardi, last two races (Kimi's wing failure notwithstanding) they are on pace with Ferrari - almost. And Williams has a winning record most people could be proud of - eventhough Newey's gone and the aero package isn't currently working. Last year they brought in an old-schooler to find some mechanical grip, which he did without all the computer simulation stuff that his predecessor used to no avail. And BMW make some awesome engines, so don't count them out for next year just yet.

Bambooseven

iTrader: (1)

I know, I am just baised toward BMW. I have some sort of unexplainable enmity toward them. Now I'm even more pissed off cause they took Button.

Hehe, I guess one shouldn't let emotions get involved with things of this nature. ;D

Brian*

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So does this open up doors for Trulli at BAR? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought Trulli signed with or is at least intending to go to Toyota

Brian

Angry Joe

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Contracts don't mean much in racing, just means that Willams will probably buy out Button's contract.

Loyalty? Well, Honda didn't stay too loyal to CART. They talked the talk about wanted technology and such, but didn't take much to jump ship and build IRL engines.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Honda left CART because the series was horribly mismanaged, and their handling of some engine rules was a slap in the face to them (remember the blowoff valve fiasco?) I don't blame them for jumping ship - and remember that two other engine manufacturers left like Honda at almost the same time.

Footwork

nooooooooooooooooooooo!
i hope they promote davidson, and not take that creepy JV back.
let JV keep on skiing with his pink helmet.

Greyout

Concerned about Honda's commitment? WTF. They just extended their contract, and a BAR press release a few weeks ago talked about Honda increasing their involvement in the chassis, and sending a boat load of little honda men to England to be more directly involved in development.

Can't wait to see BAR smoke Williams next year

Button

BauleyCivic

Did you guys read the reports? Check on F1 live...

Apparently button's manager called frank williams and gave him an hour to decide if he wanted button or not...whether jenson has anything to do with this is unknown. We've seen press releases from williams and BAR but nothing from button.

Button has seemed happy to be at BAR the entire year, so I don't know why in the hell he would want to change teams. So we'll have to see which team has the best lawyers

speedracer33

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Apparently button's manager called frank williams and gave him an hour to decide if he wanted button or not...whether jenson has anything to do with this is unknown. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I can assure you that his manager wasn't trying to make a deal with Williams without talking to Button first. He is NOT innocent here!

So what are the options? Trulli (no, he hasn't signed with Toyota yet), Coultard, Hakinnen, DaMatta, Heidfeld, Bourdais?

rickpeak

I bet Heidfeld gets the nod.

Spade

BAR will not give up Button unless forced to. If so, it's anyones game.

I mean look at all of the speculation about the 2 Williams seats. Webber, okay one could guess that, but no one thought that it would be Button.

BAR very much dislikes JV and he will not be back with them.

It's probably going to be Davidson, although he hasn't been seen at race pace, he has the speed on Fridays (light weight and sticky tires to set high times of course)

Marauder

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Angry Joe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(remember the blowoff valve fiasco?) I don't blame them for jumping ship - and remember that two other engine manufacturers left like Honda at almost the same time.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes I do....I worked for HPD and was right in the middle of it!

Spade

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yes I do....I worked for HPD and was right in the middle of it!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think worked is an understatement, didn't you run that shop?

TeamSlowdotOrg

Sweet, I can put up my BMW/Williams F1 banner again.

drumsy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Spade &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's probably going to be Davidson, although he hasn't been seen at race pace, he has the speed on Fridays (light weight and sticky tires to set high times of course)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Davidson competed in two Formula One races in 2002.

speedracer33

Davidson worries me simply because Sato handed him his *** just about every race when they were teammates in F3000. Also, Davidson's pace during Friday practice was deceiving since he had more RPMs to use than the other drivers.

I think Heidfeld is a major possibility, since I doubt BAR wants two drivers as inexperienced as Davidson and Sato leading their charge. I wonder how much sponsorship money BAR is going to lose without Button there....

2Slow2Content

I think Coulthard is the more likely replacement. He's British, has got a lot of experience and will be great help in developing the car.