Briatore gives boost to Button
Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore has given his driver Jenson Button a boost after the young Brit has failed to match the performance of team mate Giancarlo Fisichella this year
Button has outqualified Fisichella only once this season and has been unable to get on terms with the Italian. But Briatore, who has publicly criticised drivers in the past, does not believe Button is at fault.
The Italian team chief says Button's under performance is down to a combination of factors, including set-up problems and a lack of experience.
"Jenson is in his first year with the team," Briatore told this week's Autosport magazine. "Giancarlo has been here since the end of 1997. Jenson is finding it difficult driving the car with Giancarlo's set-up, but he is now trying to find his own. They have different driving styles and we need to figure that out."
The gap between the Benetton duo has increased as the season has progressed, but some believe the problem has been compounded by the fact that Fisichella has raised his game this year.
"Giancarlo has done a very good job," said Briatore, "and at this moment, Jenson is doing a less good job, but we need to figure out this one second gap between them. Giancarlo is very quick, very consistent and very mature."
Button was given the full attention of the Benetton test team during a three day test at Magny-Cours last week in an effort to find out where the 21-year-old was losing out to his team mate.
During the test Button tried out the Enstone-based team's new power steering system, which is to be used for the first time in Canada this weekend. The F1 sophomore has been nursing a shoulder injury which has been made worse by the B201's heavy steering.
Button has a contract with the team until the end of 2002, but Fisichella's current agreement comes to an end this year. An announcement regarding the 28-year-old's future with the team is not expected until August. Jordan ace Jarno Trulli is under contract to Briatore and could be brought in as a replacement.
"I would expect something at the beginning of August," said Briatore. "Both [Trulli and Fisichella] have done a good job this year."
Montoya Praises Electronic Aids
Analysis: Sorting the Men from the Boys
NASCAR bans Chastain Martinsville wall-ride manoeuvre
NASCAR has decided to ban the wall-ride manoeuvre made famous by Ross Chastain at Martinsville that secured him a place in the Championship 4.
Gasly: Mindset for Alpine is "completely different" to Red Bull F1 move
Pierre Gasly says he has a "completely different" mindset for his Alpine Formula 1 move thanks to lessons taken from his failed stint at Red Bull in 2019.
GTD Pro win a “proper send-off” for retiring IMSA stalwart MacNeil
Winning the GTD Pro class at the Daytona 24 Hours was a fitting way for Cooper MacNeil to retire from racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, says team-mate Jules Gounon.
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
How do the best races of F1 2022 stack up to 2021?
OPINION: A system to score all the grands prix from the past two seasons produces some interesting results and sets a standard that 2023 should surely exceed
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return
He has more starts without a podium than anyone else in Formula 1 world championship history, but Nico Hulkenberg is back for one more shot with Haas. After spending three years on the sidelines, the revitalised German is aiming to prove to his new team what the F1 grid has been missing
The potential-laden F1 car that Ferrari neglected
The late Mauro Forghieri played a key role in Ferrari’s mid-1960s turnaround, says STUART CODLING, and his pretty, intricate 1512 was among the most evocative cars of the 1.5-litre era. But a victim of priorities as Formula 1 was deemed less lucrative than success in sportscars, its true potential was never seen in period
Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
OPINION: Fred Vasseur has spent only a few weeks as team principal for the Ferrari Formula 1 team, but is already intent on taking the Scuderia back to the very top. And despite it being arguably the most demanding job in motorsport, the Frenchman is relishing the challenge
The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
Changes to the regulations for season two of Formula 1's ground-effects era aim to smooth out last year’s troubles and shut down loopholes. But what areas have been targeted, and what impact will this have?
Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
Who are the quickest drivers in Formula 1 history? LUKE SMITH asked a jury of experienced and international panel of experts and F1 insiders. Some of them have worked closely with F1’s fastest-ever drivers – so who better to vote on our all-time top 50? We’re talking all-out speed here rather than size of trophy cabinet, so the results may surprise you…
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.