Briatore: Button is Safe at Renault

Jenson Button's Renault drive for 2002 is safe, team boss Flavio Briatore said on Sunday, dispelling rumours the young Briton may be discharged from the team.

"I see that Jenson now is a completely different guy," Briatore said of the 22-year-old Briton at the launch of Renault's 2002 Formula One car.

Button struggled at Benetton last year, when Briatore sent him a clear message that his job was on the line and that he must either knuckle down or leave.

"I don't want to destroy any driver," Briatore told reporters on Sunday, changing his tune markedly and sending the driver a ringing show of support before the season starts in Australia on March 3.

"I want to help Jenson. But to help Jenson you need to be shaking him. Last year he was shaken enough, especially at the end of the season.

"Now our relationship is perfect ... Jenson is driving for us all season. I tell you, Jenson is finishing the season with us. There is no reason to have another driver in Jenson's place.

"I like him, I believe he's done everything a young driver needs to do to be concentrated in his job and really I am very happy about that."

Button scored just two points in 2001, often struggling at the rear of the grid in a car that was uncompetitive but which he also failed to dominate.

Rumours have since abounded suggesting that Spaniard Fernando Alonso - now the Renault test driver - or Canadian Jacques Villeneuve might replace him this season.

Media Hype

Briatore said Button, who has featured large in glossy magazines with his singer girlfriend and luxury yacht moored at the paddock waterside in Monaco, had acquired fresh focus.

More importantly, he said he had stopped believing all the media hype that had built up after a remarkable 2000 debut season at Williams.

The Briton has parted from manager David Robertson since a disappointing 2001 with Benetton, now Renault, and has kept the media at arms length.

"I am over the moon, honestly," said Briatore about the changes. "The problem with Jenson was the fact that he had a lot of success with Frank (Williams)...

"I believe that sometimes Jenson, reading your articles, believed he was already the big star. You convinced him he was already perfect, basically."

At Benetton he betrayed his lack of experience and also, according to Briatore, had "a lot of distractions, no focus really on the job and too many managers."

Briatore said he spent 10 "very good" days with Button in Kenya at the end of 2001 and denied there was a point last season when he doubted Button would make the grade.

"For me it was a shame to see a guy like Jenson, with the talent, to not have enough application to get the result. (Italian Giancarlo) Fisichella did it," he said.

Crucial Year

Button left reporters in no doubt that he saw 2002 as a crucial year in his career, one in which he could silence the doubters and prove his real worth.

"Winning has got to be a personal aim," he said confidently, rebelling against Briatore's own candid assessment that there was more chance of having lunch on the moon than seeing Renault triumphant in 2002.

"It is a very vital year for me, but I think it is for a lot of the F1 drivers out there at the moment. I think this is the year when I can really show what I can do and the team can show what they can do.

"I've got nothing in the way of me concentrating on Formula One and driving the car and getting the best out of it."