Judgement day for Button as Williams wait in wings

The key move in the chess game of the 2005 Formula One driver line-up may be made in Milan today, if independent judges rule Jenson Button must stay with BAR-Honda, or is free to move to Williams-BMW.

The key move in the chess game of the 2005 Formula One driver line-up may be made in Milan today, if independent judges rule Jenson Button must stay with BAR-Honda, or is free to move to Williams-BMW.

The 24-year-old Englishman told BAR back in early August that, despite them taking up an option on his services until 2006, he did not intend to stay but had instead committed himself to Williams. The matter has since been put before the Contract Recognition Board.

Button will not be the only driver waiting anxiously to hear the outcome, for he holds the key to several futures. If he switches to Williams, the Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia will find himself without a race seat. David Coulthard entertains hopes of securing the BAR seat if that happens.

But his chances are slim and if they lose Button, BAR may sign test driver Anthony Davidson on a six-race performance-based contract, while possibly signing the Italian F3000 champion Vitantonio Liuzzi as a test driver. There is also an outside chance that Rubens Barrichello could switch from Ferrari.