August 2004 News
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10 August: The BAR Team has issued a statement today indicating that they have received acknowledgement from the Contracts Recognition Board (CRB) that their contract with Jenson Button is the only valid contract registered for the 2005 season. The Williams team however issued a counter-statement and claimed that BAR's statement was misleading as the CRB have not endorsed  BAR's agreement with Button but simply confirmed the receipt of the contract.
Honda earlier confirmed that they had provided all the reassurance Button's management had asked for during the negotiations. Honda Racing vice president Otmar Szafnauer was quoted as saying We were shocked and surprised, we thought he would be racing for BAR next season. We gave Jenson's management all the reassurance they had asked for. When we asked if the answers provided were what he was looking for, they answered yes."

It appears that both parties are adamant they've done the right thing and so the legal process continues!

BAR Honda Statement: 

The FIA Contract Recognition Board acknowledged, in writing, that, as of today, the B.A.R contract with Jenson Button is the only valid contract registered for the 2005 season.

A driver's 'super licence' - 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' in other words immediately, and without delay, in order to establish its validity.

B.A.R has willingly submitted itself to this process which is final and binding on all parties.

Williams BMW Statement:

In relation to the statement issued by B.A.R. the BMW WilliamsF1 Team reiterate it is Jenson’s intention to drive for the team in 2005.

His contractual position provides for this. The team would also like to clarify the following matters:

• The Contracts Recognition Board (CRB) is not a constituent element of the FIA, but an independent body set up under the Concorde Agreement between the Formula One teams, the commercial rights holder (FOM) & the FIA. It is therefore wholly incorrect to refer or indicate that the decisions made by the CRB are an endorsement of a legal position by the FIA.
• B.A.R.’s statement today is misleading. B.A.R. have registered what they believe to be a valid claim over Jenson Button for 2005. The CRB have not endorsed the validity of this claim, but have simply confirmed receipt of B.A.R.’s documentation.
• This does not mean that their contract is valid, or holds precedence over other contracts with Jenson Button.
• As a matter of record, WilliamsF1 has a contract with Jenson Button deposited with the CRB in October 22, 2002. Receipt of this deposit was also acknowledged by the CRB.
• In the opinion of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, B.A.R. have failed in their responsibility to correctly exercise certain option clauses in their contract with Jenson Button, and as such, their contract has expired, and Williams’ contract is valid.
• The CRB does not, in all cases, make final adjudication on contractual disputes, and may refer cases to the appropriate legal authorities.

The BMW WilliamsF1 Team has a commitment to correctly represent the outcome of this process to the media as and when a conclusion is reached.

Related Stories:

Contract Recognition Board validates BAR's contract with Button ... Full Story (20 October)
Contract Recognition Board delays decision on Button until the 16th of October ... Full Story (22 September)
BAR receive acknowledgement on Button's contract from the CRB and Williams counter! ... Full Story (10 August)
Button reaffirms his intentions to move to Williams following his meeting with Richards ... Full Story (8 August)
BAR issues Button deadline ... Full Story (6 August)
Jenson Button returns to Williams BMW in 2005 but BAR dispute the move ... Full Story (5 August)

Click here for the 2005 Formula 1 Team and Driver Line-up 

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