Gentlemanly behaviour?

[Glen]

Since the other threads have gotten rather long, and this is just one specific point, I thought a discussion about gentlemanly behaviour might be interesting:

Now that it emerges that Dave Richards' position in all this is very far from whiter-than-white we can see Jenson Button's moves in a totally new light... Jenson hadn't (apparently) been paid rather a lot of bonus money, and BAR have attempted to back-track on their contract commitments to him. So how does Dave Richards think it is ok to ignore major facets of a contract yet publicly berate his driver for attempting to exploit contract loopholes? Not only that, but Richards has recruited other team bosses and Bernie to his cause, leading to Bernie labelling Jenson "not much of a gentleman" for following this course of action. Jenson was the one that simply kept quiet about things which shouldn't be aired in public - and he has taken the flack for it.

Maybe it's just a case of "All's fair in love and war" (and F1 is loaded with both). Which only means that nothing in this sport shoud be taken at face value and we would all do well to not jump to conclusions about the character of individuals.

[spider]

Glen, very well put. I'm sure Jenson has been advised to keep quiet, take the flak, and wait for the truth to come out. If this is the case - that JB's contract has not been honoured from BAR, then can you blame him for wanting to jump ship?! It's similar to a sales guy not receiving any commission - would you stay or would you go to a company you've worked for previously, a market leader, who you know will at least pay you what they say they will...

If this is true, then who could blame Jenson for wanting to leave?!

[Mike_Wooshy]

we just need to wait for the facts .... but i dont blame him at all for jumping ship not in the slightest.

[Super Tourer]

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=59584

BAR have now paid Button's bonus it seems.

BAR's David Richards has now paid Jenson Button more than $3 million in previously withheld points bonus payments, a source has leaked to the media. The source confirmed publications' suspicions that the driver's relationship with BAR soured when Richards repeatedly refused to honour the commitment.

In terms of the contract position, when it all washes out it may well be that Honda's alleged desire to leave the door ajar should the new F1 format/engine rules not suit them - will be the very clause that Button's lawyers have used to untie him from BAR's contract.

Should that be the case, it will be an example of 'being shot by your own gun' as it were.

[Glen]

Considering all DR's bluster and public running-down of Jenson don't you think it would be the decent thing for him to publicly explain these missing payments? He can't possibly try and occupy the higher moral ground whilst secretly renaging on agreements as it suits him.

I don't see how Jenson could ever trust him again, and I think any other driver that might be looking for a job with BAR would be wise to learn from this debacle.

[Kicking-back]

Those who criticised Jenson for apparently not saying very much on the whole matter of moving teams may now realise he was doing the right thing to choose his words carefully!

[hgmonaro]

will be an interesting chapter in JBs autobiography in years to come!

[Testure]

I don't see any reason why I should choose to believe that BAR were refusing to pay Button his bonus any more than I should believe that Button is behaving in an ungentlemany way. People are biased and are believing what they want to in this little saga.

[Kicking-back]

People will always believe what they want to, that's human nature.

[spider]

Lets just see what Jenson says in the closed season, and as hgmonaro says - all should be revealed in his autobiography one day!

[enemy-ace]

One thing that does seem obvious is that DR likes to play his cards in the media (not unlike what he did with JV); Button has been smart and not stooped this level.
It would seem DR is a good manager but lacking in people skills.

[Glen]

Originally posted by Testure
I don't see any reason why I should choose to believe that BAR were refusing to pay Button his bonus any more than I should believe that Button is behaving in an ungentlemany way. People are biased and are believing what they want to in this little saga.

Ah - but I don't believe that you mean that! One doesn't choose to believe - on the balance of evidence something either rings true or it doesn't.

[jj2728]

Originally posted by enemy-ace
One thing that does seem obvious is that DR likes to play his cards in the media (not unlike what he did with JV); Button has been smart and not stooped this level.
It would seem DR is a good manager but lacking in people skills.

very true. seems this tactic was used to throw people off the "money trail" so to speak and in keeping with the thread topic not gentlemanly at all. but then again, the days of gentlemen in f1 are long gone i'm afraid.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by jj2728
but then again, the days of gentlemen in f1 are long gone i'm afraid.

I'm not sure F1 was ever populated solely by gentlemen. In addition I think that it only reflects the rest of the world.

[climb]

Anyways, It seems to me that both copntenders sort of lyed.
DR casually forgetting to declare his unpaid dues towards JB, and Jenson by telling the world his choice was not for money, like it just appears to be, ultimately.

[Glen]

Not sure that it is accurate to say that his choice was because of money - it seems more like due to an incident involving money Jenson doesn't feel that he can work with and trust BAR. It would have been more accurate for him to say that he wasn't moving for a higher salary.

[Fuzzyfelt]

It seems ironic that Button is being accused of being ungentlemanly by the head of a sport which lost all pretence of moral scruples long ago.
I don't see how Button can be faulted for his actions. His silence says more about his personality than all of the mud that's been slung at him.
Some one mentioned in another thread that DR will turn his 'photo face grin' on or off depending on the proximity of a camera. This kind of two faced behaviour is certainly not indicative of a gentleman.
As Adam said, it reflects the rest of the world, but that doesn't excuse it or stop it from being really sad.

[Mike_Wooshy]

Originally posted by Fuzzyfelt
It seems ironic that Button is being accused of being ungentlemanly by the head of a sport which lost all pretence of moral scruples long ago.
I don't see how Button can be faulted for his actions. His silence says more about his personality than all of the mud that's been slung at him.
Some one mentioned in another thread that DR will turn his 'photo face grin' on or off depending on the proximity of a camera. This kind of two faced behaviour is certainly not indicative of a gentleman.
As Adam said, it reflects the rest of the world, but that doesn't excuse it or stop it from being really sad.

sums it up really

[Led ZeppF1]

Well, Button is fight back. He expressed regret that his decision to leave BAR for Williams next season should have led to such acrimony, but blamed BAR boss David Richards for taking their disagreement public.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/12454/

[Adam43]

All I can see is a pretty much ideal situation. Those who hate DR have enough to re-inforce their opinion and those who hate JB can feel that they are the wise ones too.

[Led ZeppF1]

Adam, you got it.

[Jaxs]

Oh come on the guy has to say something what better than to blame the other person. and can you guess who told him to say that.

Still no other contract lodged? williams talking but not producing?

JB could have sorted out his differences and then walked .. if he's not doing it for the money why is the money from BAR so important?

[Kicking-back]

The money from BAR is so important because he signed a contract saying he'd be payed it.

How happy would you be if your employer didn't pay what had been agreed.

[grumpy1]

As I said in another tread this whole thing blew up in the media due to an un-named source from BAR.
The credibilty of David Richards is shot to bits due to his public berating of JB and Williams while with holding the truth from the media.Very self serving and un gentlemanly indeed.
Mr Button on the other hand has showed remarkable restraint over the whole affair.To see how well see
www.formula1.com and read the transcript of the BUtton Webber press conference.

The Grumpy1

[Wrex]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
All I can see is a pretty much ideal situation. Those who hate DR have enough to re-inforce their opinion and those who hate JB can feel that they are the wise ones too.

Lets not forget, Its Ferrari's cheating that led to this (dont have a connection, but I'm sure one of the monkies can make it stick)