$90m may change Frank’s mind

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false.' BAR has all but ruled out paying Williams a ludicrous $90m so it can keep Jenson Button in 2006.

The Brackley based team's principal, Nick Fry, told The Times newspaper at Monza: ''Newcastle United only had to pay $30m for Michael Owen.''

It is now suggested that the only way out for 25-year-old Button, who does not want to stagnate at a customer engine-powered Williams team, may be to sit next year on the bench.

That might even involve BAR-Honda helping Button to pay compensation to Frank Williams. Fry added: ''Jenson has made it abundantly clear that he wants to drive for BAR and nobody else. ''No matter what happens, we will stand by him.''

08/30/05 A staggering $90 million, it is reported, may convince Sir Frank Williams to let Jenson Button stay at BAR next season. UK tabloid 'News Of The World' said that, although Williams seemed recently unwilling to negotiate, the ballpark figure was hit back into the Honda co-owned team's court after Frank knocked back an earlier $36m plea.

''Frank can play hardball on this,'' a supposed 'insider' told the newspaper, ''because we have a watertight contact with Jenson for next season.''

BAR principal Nick Fry is unwilling to put a figure on the value of 25 year old Button to the Brackley team, but he did say that it's 'a lot.' "There has been a number of letters going backwards and forwards,'' he also revealed, ''and … discussions.''

Button is, no doubt, perhaps keener than all to find a compromise. As well as baulking at the concept of a Cosworth-powered Williams, he reportedly has a five year, $18m per-year BAR deal in sight.

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