SEPTEMBER 15, 2004

Contract Recognition Board delayed

The Contract Recognition Board which is due to meet to decide whether Jenson Button should drive for Williams or for BAR in 2005 will not be meeting until the end of October, unless the teams involved can get the legal people in Switzerland to hurry things along. The three-man arbitration committee is scheduled to meet on the weekend of the Brazilian Grand Prix, a month later than had been hoped. The decision will decide what happens next in the F1 driver market as there are a number of drivers waiting to see what happens with Button.

One man at the centre of the story appears to be former World Champion Mika Hakkinen, who is still holding out hopes of getting a drive with Williams while of the modern generation Anthony Davidson, Nick Heidfeld, Antonio Pizzonia and Vitantonio Liuzzi are all waiting to hear what happens. One must also include David Coulthard in the calculations as the Scotsman says he wants to continue racing in F1 next year.