Williams refused millions to let Button go free.
Sir Frank Williams apparently valued Jenson Button so highly that he turned down a lucrative offer to sell the Briton's contract.
According to Timothy Collings in Britain's Daily Telegraph, the veteran team boss was offered around ?30million by Button's manager David Robertson to relinquish his grip on the 20-year old, and make him a free agent.
Sir Frank Williams apparently valued Jenson Button so highly that he turned down a lucrative offer to sell the Briton's contract.
According to Timothy Collings in Britain's Daily Telegraph, the veteran team boss was offered around ?30million by Button's manager David Robertson to relinquish his grip on the 20-year old, and make him a free agent.
Button yesterday confirmed a two-year loan deal with Benetton, which will guarantee him a seat in Formula One until 2003, but his management team were keen to buy out the remaining years of his Williams contract in order to then tout his talent around other teams. Instead, the Grove outfit will have first call on Button's services for the 2003 season, in case Juan Montoya - who is expected to replace the Briton - does not take to F1.
''I tried to buy Jenson out of his contract with Williams,'' Robertson confirmed to the 'paper, ''but Frank Williams wouldn't even consider [the offer]. The sort of figure we were talking about was ?30million, but he was not interested. He realises what a talent he has on his hands.
''Thirty million is a lot of money so, if Frank wouldn't accept that, he must think a lot of Jenson.It shows that they have not lost confidence in him. [Going to Benetton] is a great move for him. It was our job to find a competitive team, and that is what we've done. We're thrilled.''
Robertson also admitted that Benetton wasn't the only team that had been approached as a temporary home for the former European kart champion, with Jordan, Jaguar and BAR also on the list, and confirming that most of the season's rumours had been true. Whilst the seat alongside Giancarlo Fisichella next year should provide Button with the chance of again running at the front of the field, however, Robertson firmly believes that his charge will be back at Williams in the future.
''Just because he has signed for Benetton doesn't mean that he'll stay there,'' Robertson said, ''There is a very, very good chance that he will be back at Williams for 2003.''
