JULY 9, 2012

Button's management advising Di Resta

Richard Goddard, manager of Jenson Button, has been proffering advice to Force India driver paul Di Resta following the latter's management split with Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony. By Tony Dodgins.

Richard Goddard, manager of Jenson Button, has been proffering advice to Force India driver Paul Di Resta following the latter's management split with Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony.

The Scot's split with Hamilton Sr was not a subject Di Resta wished to get drawn into at Silverstone. It is, however,believed to have caused a degree of bad blood between Di Resta and Lewis Hamilton, who took his own management out of the hands of his father when he signed with Simon Fuller's Nineteen Entertainment organisation.

Questioned about the Di Resta link, Goddard stressed that he had no contract with Di Resta nor has been paid anything by him, but was happy to offer advice at an important time for the 26-year-old. He was noncommittal about future plans.

Last year, Button, Goddard and James Williamson formed The Sports Partnership, offering management and PR services to professional athletes and sports figures. Current clients include David Coulthard and rising young British golfer Jake Shepherd.

Managing racing drivers is an obvious area of expertise and on setting up the company Goddard said: "Jenson wouldn't want a business relationship with a direct rival, but he would enjoy working with a young guy -- somebody who has just come into F1 or is on the brink."

The launch of the company caused some speculation as to how long Button intended to carry on in F1. "Jenson has a number of years left as a driver but it's something we've always talked about and decided to launch sooner rather than later," Goddard said.

Button is expected to see out the remainder of his F1 career at McLaren.