Barrichello: Honda have to do more work

Although Button finished off the season as the highest points-scorer from the Hungarian Grand Prix onward, Barrichello is under no illusions about the progress that it still needed ahead of 2007.

"I think that this team has a huge amount of potential, but still has some work to do if we are to become consistent winners," said Barrichello, who joined the team at the start of this year.

"It's very hard for someone new to come in and change the ideas of everyone, especially when the team has been running for a number of years now with their own ideas how everything should work.

"I think I have good experience of what Ferrari had, and the areas that we need to develop here at Honda."

Barrichello also believes that Button needs to learn more about stamping his authority on the team to make changes - having perhaps got too used to the way Honda Racing works.

"Jenson is still fairly young, and he has a very bright future. He has a lot of talent and he knows how to drive this car - he's been coping with it for a few years.

"I think it's just from lack of experience that he hasn't asked for more changes, so basically you see me complaining a lot more than he does. I think he's learning a lot, and to be a champion you really need to learn. I've never been one, but I probably know what it takes."

Although Button outshone Barrichello during much of 2006, the Brazilian is confident that being more settled next season will be a big help to his ambitions.

"I think we have been pushing each other quite hard. And quite honestly, without any modesty, I've been doing quite well. As I said I think Jenson is quite well adapted to the car. I've just not been scoring points that I should have been.

"But it will definitely be a lot easier (in 2007), as I can have more of an input into the development of the car than I could this year.

"This team will be able to change small things that matter to me, but they all count at the end of the day. We need a bit of everything, not just one specific thing."