Analysis: Button Heralds Potential End of 'Big Four'

Jenson Button's career-best finish in second place at Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix has heralded not only his arrival among the title-challengers, but also the potential break-up of the long-established 'big four' at the top end of the sport.

Briton Button, driving a BAR-Honda, secured his and his team's first pole position - and Honda's first for 12 years - on Saturday and then followed it with an exemplary performance on Ferrari's home circuit.

"He is in the thick of it now," said six-times champion and series leader by 16 points Michael Schumacher afterwards. "Yes, he is a real challenge."

In Sunday's race, said Schumacher, when Button led from the start, he felt as if he was racing in the wet as he chased him while the Englishman was racing in the dry.

But he managed to catch him, overhaul him and pull clear to win again, leaving Button to come home second ahead of grumpy third-placed Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya of Williams-BMW. The two Renaults of Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Italian Jarno Trulli came home fourth and fifth ahead of sixth-placed Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.

This left the leading McLaren-Mercedes-Benz of Finn Kimi Raikkonen to trail in eighth behind Ralf Schumacher in the second Williams. His teammate, Briton David Coulthard, finished 12th, a result that confirmed that, temporarily at least, the Anglo-German combination are off the pace.

Indeed, as a glance at the latest standings for the Constructors' Championship indicates, the top four places now belong to Ferrari, Renault, BAR-Honda and Williams - with McLaren a distant fifth.

McLaren, once regarded as the team to beat in Formula One, have not won at Imola since 1998 when Briton David Coulthard was triumphant. Prior to that, their last victory in the event was achieved by Brazilian Ayrton Senna in 1991.

"People should not forget that we are a very strong and resourceful team and they may well be surprised by how quickly we can recover and become competitive again," said team chief Ron Dennis. "But for now, we know we have to endure some pain."

McLaren have now won only three times in the last two years and seven times since the end of the 2000 season. Their last victory came at the Malaysian Grand Prix last year, more than a year ago now and a painful memory to Dennis and his team.

Usurped by BAR-Honda at the sharp end of the grid and in the races, McLaren are struggling to overcome their problems. Staff changes have been introduced, key man Martin Whitmarsh has been given a new role to oversee the engines company Ilmor and various people have begun to whisper and spread rumours.

Once almighty, in the Formula One paddock, McLaren have been humbled and the changeover is having far-reaching effects. Coulthard, a winner of 13 Grands Prix and perceived to be Britain's senior driver, may soon be replaced as his home nation's favourite by the younger Button.

Coulthard is 33, Button is 24; the young guard has arrived. The old guard is marching on, but no longer as part of the big four. Where once it read: Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Benetton (now Renault), it now reads: Ferrari, BAR-Honda, Renault and Williams. Only a huge effort can revive McLaren's fortunes.