Frank Williams has admitted that Bruno Junqueira was his preference for the second seat in his team - until the morning that he announced Jenson Button as the lucky recipient!



The team boss had apparently made up his mind on Sunday night, based on the fact that Junqueira and Button had proved closely matched on the track, with the Brazilian getting the nod on the strength of his feedback to the engineers. But, having spent the night pondering his decision, Williams changed his mind on the plane to Spain, and opted for youth over experience.



"It was a close thing," Williams revealed at the team's launch on Monday, "Last night it was in Bruno's favour, this morning it flipped in Jenson's. We spent a long time arriving at the conclusion, and he got it by the smallest of margins.



"Bruno seemed to have a better understanding of his car, and was just as quick, but what impressed me with Jenson was not just his speed, but how quick his times were. The first time he stepped into one of our cars he did two laps and then got a quick one in. He is very special and extremely mature and self-assured. He is the better long-term opportunity."



Junqueira has been retained by the team as test and reserve driver on the strength of his performances at both Jerez and Barcelona during the protracted shootout.