BAR pull plug on Davidson's Williams move.

Anthony Davidson will not race for the BMW WilliamsF1 team in 2005, after current employers BAR pulled the plug on a possible deal.

Davidson was due to join Mark Webber for a test session at Jerez next week, but BAR has now announced that Davidson will not be able to take part in the test.

The 26-year-old Brit is under a long term contract with BAR, but saw his chances of a race seat with his current employers end when the Contract Recognition Board ruled that Jenson Button would not move to Williams himself next season.

That left Williams searching for a partner for Webber for 2005, although they may favour a short term deal with Button expected by many to make the move for 2006.

It appears that BAR were happy to allow Davidson to make the switch to Williams for next season on the condition that he would then be able to return to the Honda powered team if, as expected, Button departs.

However, BAR technical director Geoff Willis said on Wednesday that Williams had set 'untenable' conditions that meant the team had been forced to block Davidson from making the switch.

"Anthony is one of the team's prime assets and we have him under long-term contract," he said.

"It is for this reason that a great deal has been invested in him over the years and whilst we are enormously keen for him to gain F1 race experience and further his career, we clearly cannot compromise the future of BAR.

"In that regard, we felt that we had reached a very good agreement with Williams whereby he could drive in 2005, but could be repatriated to BAR under certain specific circumstances for 2006.
"Williams have insisted on an unconditional arrangement which, unfortunately, is untenable for the team."

With Davidson now seemingly destined to spend 2005 in a testing role with BAR unless an agreement can be reached, it looks like being a two way fight for the second seat at Williams between test driver Antonio Pizzonia and Nick Heidfeld - who is believed to be the favoured choice of engine suppliers BMW.