Editing Jenson Button (section)

====BAR (2003–2005)====
===== 2003 =====
Button faced early hostility from new teammate Villeneuve, who said Button "should be in a boy band" and was not on speaking terms with him.{{sfn|Button|2017|pp=165–168}} Their relationship did not improve after the [[2003 Australian Grand Prix|first race]] in Australia: Villeneuve was due to pit, but stayed out an extra lap and made a pit stop when Button was due in, leaving Button waiting in the pit lane while Villeneuve's car was serviced. Villeneuve blamed it on "radio problems", but both Button and Richards hinted that they did not believe him. Button scored eight points in the first six races, including a fourth place at the {{F1 GP|2003|Austrian}}.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=51, 212, 218}} His relationship with Villeneuve improved thereafter because of his better performance and said the comments were caused by inter-team changes.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=165–168}} A high speed crash for Button during Saturday qualifying in [[2003 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]] briefly knocked him unconscious, and he was detained in hospital overnight. Despite the accident Button still wanted to race, but was withdrawn by his team on medical advice. He was cleared to race for the following Grand Prix in [[2003 Canadian Grand Prix|Montreal]].{{sfn|Button|2017|pp=170–173}} Button continued to outperform his teammate and this helped rebuild his previously faltering reputation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2705685.stm |title=Jenson Button |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=30 December 2010 |date=26 February 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040416123018/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2705685.stm |archive-date=16 April 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> Just before the final race in [[2003 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]], Villeneuve lost his seat at BAR, so Button was partnered with [[Takuma Sato]]; he took his second fourth place of the season,{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=51, 212, 218}} and finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship with 17 points.<ref name=MMagBio/>

[[File:Jenson button usgp 2004 ontrack.jpg|thumb|left|Button driving for [[British American Racing|BAR]] at the {{F1GP||2004 United States}}.]]

===== 2004 =====
The {{F1|2004}} season was the first in which Button was the more experienced driver in his team. He was ambitious for the season, saying he wanted to challenge consistently for points and podium finishes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/formula-one/article/button-passes-up-spice-boy-trappings-in-pursuit-of-podium-708ccxkrs79|title=Button passes up spice boy trappings in pursuit of podium|date=29 January 2004|first=Kevin|last=Eason|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=30 December 2010|url-access=subscription|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201102/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/button-passes-up-spice-boy-trappings-in-pursuit-of-podium-708ccxkrs79|url-status=live}}</ref> He took his first podium in the second race of the year—third-place at the {{F1GP|2004|Malaysian}}. He followed it up two weeks later with another third-place in [[2004 Bahrain Grand Prix|Bahrain]]. In the next race at [[2004 San Marino Grand Prix|Imola]], he took his first pole position and finished second behind [[Michael Schumacher]].{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=179–180}} He took 10 podiums in 18 races, and scored no points in three.<ref name="Results" /><ref name=BUTCurious/> Button came third in the Drivers' Championship and helped BAR to take second in the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]].{{Sfn|Hill|2005|p=21}}

In August, Button became embroiled in a contract dispute. On 5 August, Button chose to leave BAR and signed a two-year contract to return to Williams.{{sfn|Henry|2005|pp=178–181}} He did so because BAR were not a works manufacturer team but Williams were in a partnership with BMW and felt they could help him win the Drivers' Championship.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=182–183}} This was surprising, as Button was enjoying his best season to date, while Williams had been struggling.{{sfn|Henry|2005|pp=178–181}} BAR insisted they had the right to exercise their option to retain Button. His management argued that the BAR option was not valid because it contained a clause allowing him to leave if BAR risked losing their Honda engines. They felt the new contract signed mid-year for Honda to supply engines to BAR was not definitive, and thus Button was free to move.<ref name="contract">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3541518.stm|title=Will team switch undo Button?|date=6 August 2004|first=Andrew|last=Benson|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=31 December 2010|archive-date=31 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531064305/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3541518.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BARcontract">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3746818.stm |title=BAR win Button contract dispute |date=20 October 2004 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=31 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060331002411/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3746818.stm |archive-date=31 March 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The dispute went to F1's Contract Recognition Board, who ruled in favour of BAR on 20 October, forcing Button to stay with the team.<ref name="BARcontract"/> Button separated from his manager John Byfield as a result, saying he had been badly advised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/button-changes-manager-after-williams-affair-15086.html|title=Button changes manager after Williams affair|first=Alastair|last=Moffitt|work=The Independent|date=1 January 2005|access-date=2 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502104819/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/button-changes-manager-after-williams-affair-15086.html|archive-date=2 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He asked his friend Richard Goodard to manage him,{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=182–183}} and employed a personal assistant in restructuring his organisation.<ref name=F1RMagJul09>{{cite journal|last=Allen|first=James|author-link=James Allen (journalist)|title=The Renaissance of Jenson Button|url=http://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/racing/2009/07.2009.pdf|journal=F1 Racing|date=July 2009|access-date=4 May 2020|pages=43–47|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504205215/http://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/racing/2009/07.2009.pdf|archive-date=4 May 2020|url-status=live|issn=1361-4487}}</ref>

===== 2005 =====
[[File:Jenson Button 2005 Canada 2.jpg|thumb|right|Button at the {{F1GP||2005 Canadian}}, where he took [[pole position]].]]
Despite the feud, Button insisted he had BAR's backing,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4178779.stm |title=Button retains BAR team backing |date=16 January 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531064307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4178779.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and was optimistic for the {{F1|2005}} season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2005/1/2540.html|title=BAR drivers target first win with 007|date=16 January 2005|publisher=formula1.com|access-date=2 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163236/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2005/1/2540.html|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He was unable to deal with regulation changes concerning aerodynamics and his car lacked pace as a result.<ref name=DTSep05>{{cite news|last=Garside|first=Kevin|title=Button wins his freedom for £18m|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/kevingarside/2365562/Button-wins-his-freedom-for-18m.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 September 2005|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201044/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/kevingarside/2365562/Button-wins-his-freedom-for-18m.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Button was disqualified from third place at the {{F1 GP|2005|San Marino}} after race scrutineers found his car had a second fuel tank inside the main one, that when drained, made his car underweight. The FIA International Court of Appeal banned Button and his team from the next two races as a result. Following his return, he took the second pole position of his career in [[2005 Canadian Grand Prix|Montreal]], but crashed out after an error while running third.{{sfn|Henry|2009|pp=117–119, 174}} After the {{F1GP|2005|United States}}, Button scored in all of the remaining races with two third-place finishes in [[2005 German Grand Prix|Germany]] and [[2005 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgium]] to end the season in ninth place on 37 points.<ref name=MMagBio/>

For the second consecutive year, Button had contract disputes involving BAR and Williams. Button had signed a pre-contract to drive for Williams in {{F1|2006}}, but he now believed his prospects of achieving his maiden Grand Prix victory would be better at BAR, and that his Williams contract was not binding.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4725623.stm |title=I'm not tied to Williams&nbsp;– Button |date=28 July 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826214953/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4725623.stm |archive-date=26 August 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> Frank Williams insisted the contract was fully binding, and that there would be "absolutely no turning back"; his team required Button to fulfill some contractual obligations with sponsors.{{efn|Button's contract with Williams stipulated he had to score less than 75 per cent of points accumulated by the leader of the Drivers' Championship before the {{F1GP|2005|Turkish}} to join the team for 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dodgins|first=Tony|title=Button Undone|url=https://www.autosport.com/motorsport/feature/218/button-undone|work=Autosport|date=3 August 2005|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514160841/https://www.autosport.com/motorsport/feature/218/button-undone|archive-date=14 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4727277.stm|title=Williams defiant in Button tussle|date=29 July 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223101941/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4727277.stm|archive-date=23 February 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> After several weeks of talks, Williams agreed to release Button in exchange for an estimated £18&nbsp;million in compensation.<ref name=DTSep05/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/button-gets-his-wish-as-williams-end-pursuit-kr3kz9tt0z6|title=Button gets his wish as Williams end pursuit|date=20 September 2005|work=[[The Times]]|first=Kevin|last=Eason|access-date=2 January 2011|url-access=subscription|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201057/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/button-gets-his-wish-as-williams-end-pursuit-kr3kz9tt0z6|url-status=live}}</ref>