Just before the final race in Japan, Villeneuve lost his seat at BAR, so Button was partnered with Takuma Sato; he took his second fourth place for the season, and finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship with 17 points.
Xusto antes da carreira final en Xapón, Villeneuve perdeu o seu asento no BAR, así que Button asociouse con Takuma Sato, logrou o seu segundo cuarto posto da tempada, e terminou noveno no campionato de pilotos con 17 puntos.