It appears that the BMW WilliamsF1 Team is taking the decision of the Contract Recognition Board's (CRB) decision regarding Jenson Button's contract for 2005 as read.

Both BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen, and WilliamsF1 technical director Sam Michael are talking about when Button joins the team, rather than if.

"We believe that this matter will be resolved by a legal process," said the German, "and we are confident of the outcome."

Talking of the move, Theissen continued: "While the Mark Webber deal has been on our agenda for some time, the chance of signing Jenson Button arose at short notice. The contact between him and our team hasn't ceased since he left at the end of the 2000 season. However, due to his contractual situation, we had never expected that he would be available for the 2005 season. On the eve of the German Grand Prix, however, the situation suddenly changed.

Whereas it has been widely thought that it was Button's manager, John Byfield, that contacted WilliamsF1, Theissen says that it was the driver himself that opened the dialogue.

"Jenson contacted Frank Williams and told him, that he was keen to drive for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team," admitted the German, "and that his contract offered him the opportunity to do so. WilliamsF1 informed us of this possibility and had the contractual situation examined. The result was the same. Therefore, he signed a deal with WilliamsF1. From my point of view, this is no extraordinary action.

"We have been involved in the negotiations from day one," he continued. "In both cases (Button and Mark Webber), Frank Williams asked us to support his plans and he had our full support concerning both drivers. Therefore, I was rather astonished when I read about alleged differences of opinion within our team. The opposite is the case: In the past twelve months, the cooperation has become closer and better."

Meanwhile, Sam Michael believes that Button and Webber will bring "fresh blood" to the team. "We have lacked a real motivating force within the team for the last twelve months," said the Australian. "We have two drivers at the moment that are off elsewhere, and although they have tried as hard as they can they can never completely motivate the team to succeed in the same way as two fresh guys who know they are here for a long time.

"Obviously the feedback will help decide our direction," he continued, "Mark has quite a strong character and so has Jenson, and we expect those two guys to drive this company hard. They are fresh blood, if you like, but they've also got enough experience under the belt - three or four years now - not to be 'green', so they know what is required to make the cars go fast and help us do that."