Editing Jenson Button (section)

===== 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>