BAR leave Button to fight alone

BAR boss Nick Fry feels Jenson Button's contract row with Williams could give him the edge to become a champion.

The 25-year-old wants to stay at BAR and says he is determined to get out of a contract with Williams for 2006.

"The really impressive thing about him is that despite all this going on, his focus is unbelievable. That's what it takes to be a champion," said Fry.

"People who take a few knocks often come out the stronger. In Jenson's case that's what is happening."

The saga has run since last year when BAR prevented Button leaving the team to join Williams.

However, the Briton signed a pre-contract deal with Williams that would have seen him move next season.

But Button has changed his mind and believes BAR has a better chance of challenging for the world title than Williams.

"We all feel sorry for Jenson in having had a year of this," said Fry. "He has said he's guilty in that he did not pay enough attention to what his prior management were doing.

"But I think you ought to give a bit of slack. He was 24 then and he's a race car driver. I think it's very harsh to start pointing the finger.

"If anything, in an ironic way it has strengthened his fortitude and been character-building for him."