Button: Davidson Deserves Race Seat

Briton Anthony Davidson deserves a racing seat in Formula One, according to BAR-Honda teammate Jenson Button.

"Anthony deserves a race seat, he's proved he's quick and I think in a race situation he would be good," said Button, a former karting rival. "He wouldn't change as some drivers do when they get into a race situation."

The 25-year-old Briton, who can practice on Fridays but will not race on Sunday, boosted his growing reputation by pipping World Champion Schumacher in front of the German's home fans in today's first free practice for the European Grand Prix.

Davidson lapped the circuit on a cold but bright morning in the Eifel mountains 1:29.447, 0.184 quicker than Schumacher and 0.418 ahead of Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. Button and Japanese team mate Takuma Sato were 10th and 14th quickest respectively.

Davidson started two Grands Prix for Minardi in 2002 and has frequently been the quickest non-Ferrari driver on the track in Friday sessions this year.

The test driver does not have to worry about preserving his engine in the same way as race drivers, limited to one per weekend, however and is often working to a different programme with more laps.