By Phil Huff
July 29 2005

Jenson Button took part in the pre-race press conference at Hungary today and, unusually, spent some time talking about his situation with BAR Honda and Williams. Here's what he had to say... Jenson, the silly season has slipped into overdrive for you. Can you explain your feelings at this stage about your Williams contract and BAR?

I have got very interesting memories of this room last year, quite a similar position.

Only this year you have talked!

Exactly. That is the difference. The situation is that I would like to be with BAR Honda next year that is the way I feel. I think it is important to be with a team that has a works manufacturer involved and especially considering they own 45 percent of the team at the moment that is very important in Formula One and it is one of the reasons why I want to stay next year.

It is one of the reasons. Can you give us an idea of what your thinking it, a driver’s thinking, if you like, to choosing, especially as it appears you have an option. What are the options, what are the thoughts?

It is always very difficult to predict the future. You have to try your best to do that. Obviously I have had a lot of time with BAR Honda in the past, we have experienced lots of ups and lots of downs, but as soon as I realised last year that Honda were so focussed on not only being involved with BAR but also being part of a team, it did change my views for the future. I have been through a few bad times with BAR Honda this season but it really makes you realise how strong a team is when things are tough and I think I knew that we would start coming back strong this year, although we are not there yet, they are a very strong team and I think they can turn things around very quickly, and I know that Honda will never give up until they win the world championship. They are so focused. They don’t go racing to sell cars, they go racing to win, and that is very different to a lot of manufacturers.

What has brought it to a head now, you said you realised earlier on in the year, have you actually been in contact with Williams about this for some time?

I spoke to Frank a few weeks ago.

And what did he say?

I think that is for Frank to comment on, really.

What has brought it to a head now?

Obviously we need to talk. We don’t want to leave it to the end of the season because that is unfair on everyone. I think Frank understands the situation, I think a lot of people understand the situation. I am in my sixth year of Formula One, I still haven’t won a race, I haven’t had the equipment to do that, I don’t think, but I really need to start pushing on and being with a team that can help me win races and fight for championships. It is a very difficult and a very important decision for me to make.

So, a quick final question, is something going to happen this weekend? Are you going to be having further meetings this weekend?

I am sure there will be further talks, not this weekend, we all need to concentrate on this weekend, but there will discussions hopefully very soon.

Obviously there is much talk about abandoning the one lap qualifying format. Do you think this is the way to go and as you may know, people can vote for two different qualifying formats on Formula1.com. Which do you prefer of the two?

I prefer one lap, for me it is a lot more exciting, and I think only getting one chance is good. For the viewers, when we had four qualifying runs or twelve laps, maybe it is a bit more exciting to watch, but it was so frustrating for the drivers to get a good lap in. One lap qualifying is good and you also get to see everyone’s laps which is quite interesting.

If you had not spent two thirds of the race behind Michael you would probably have been second in Hockenheim. He passed you on the outside of the first corner, over the white line, on the wrong side of the white line, against the specific instructions of the race director. What is the relationship between breaking a rule like that and breaking a technical infringement? And what sort of precedent does that set for the future anyway?

I think the problem there is that it is so easy to do, to run off the circuit there, and it is very unusual that we get fined or we get a penalty or anything. It is a difficult situation. Michael was alongside me into the corner. But he knew that if I took my racing line, he could drive off over the white line and onto the run-off area, so it gave him a lot more commitment going into the corner. I think it is something we definitely need to look at because it can change the race for somebody if you’re able to do that. I also saw it happen at the hairpin on lap one. I don’t know who it was but somebody - I think it was a Red Bull – went round the outside of somebody and was able to come on in front of them, I think it was round the outside of Giancarlo and again didn’t get a penalty so it is something we need to look at, because it is not using the circuit.