Formula One news

Purnell: Button's mess is bad for F1

Tony Purnell

A leading team boss criticised Jenson Button on Friday over the Briton's decision to switch from BAR-Honda to Williams next season. Button announced last week that he will leave BAR at the end of the season although he has enjoyed his best year in Formula One with the British team.

The 24-year-old has signed a deal with former team Williams, where he made his debut in 2000, but the matter is far from complete with BAR confident he cannot get out of his contract with them. Tony Purnell, the Jaguar team principal, who allowed his driver Mark Webber to make the switch to Williams after open discussion, criticised Button's way of dealing with things. "I don't think the messages from the Jenson Button affair are quite what Formula One wants," said Purnell.

"It is bad news for Formula One - we would like a cleaner image. It is a very unfortunate way to change teams. We are sad to see (Mark) Webber go but I think he has handled it beautifully. We have known the situation with Mark for many months and that proves you can do it quite sweetly and ethically if you like."

However Pat Symonds, technical chief at Renault, warned BAR against forcing Button to drive for the team next season if his heart is set on a switch to Williams. "If an employee doesn't want to work for you there is really no point in keeping them there," said Symonds. "And if they don't want to work for you then you should be questioning why they don't."

BAR-Honda boss David Richards claimed Friday that the FIA's Contract Recognition Board (CRB) could deliver a verdict on Jenson Button's case within four weeks, before the Italian Grand Prix in September.

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