Button Splits with Management and Aims for WC

Briton Jenson Button vowed on Sunday to be more aggressive on-track and show he is the man to end Michael Schumacher's dominance of Formula One this season, after splitting with his management team.

The 22-year-old unveiled the wraps on Renault's new R202 car in Paris and immediately declared himself good enough to overcome World Champion Schumacher despite his season of troubles last year.

Button said: "I'm much leaner, tougher and more dangerous now. Yes I'm a man. I've got to be more aggressive in racing and qualifying than before. I feel I can finish on the podium this year and fight for the Championship."

Button will be partnered by Italian Jarno Trulli this year and predicted that the team's problems of last year will serve Renault well this year.

"It is going to be a tough year," he said. "I learned a lot last year. I made some mistakes, but I won't be making them again. I went up a big learning curve but I'm glad I did it."

Button revealed he has split with his management team of David Robertson and Harald Huysmann and said that an announcement on a new team of advisors will be made in the coming days.

Renault team chief Flavio Briatore said the youngster will rediscover his form now he is rid of Robertson and Huysmann and predicted that the problems of 2001 will act as a catalyst for him.

"I'm really glad he has got rid of those managers," Briatore said. "Last year he believed all the hype and he thought he was perfect but he has got a lot to learn.

"Now he understands and he has to get on with it and consolidate. His job is definitely safe for this season, he has turned over a new leaf and I am confident for the future."