Button: I’m true Benetton blue

Speaking at Autosport International 2001 at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday, the 20-year-old wonderkid - who finished eighth in his first season of F1 racing - won't allow the fact he is 'on loan' to Benetton stop him pushing 100 per cent to win.

"I've got to concentrate on getting the team up to a level where they can fight for the championship, which I hope they can do in 2002 before I do leave," said Button. "But it's difficult to say what will happen. I've just got to concentrate on now and not look too far into the future."

Button said he has no divided loyalties, and thinks that seeing a Williams-BMW ahead of him will spur him on to beat it on the track.

"It will make me feel more motivated to pass - especially if it's Ralf [Schumacher]!" he added. "It's going to be great to be able to race against the team I drove for last year. I think we're going to be on a similar level from mid season to the end of the year. I'm really going to enjoy that, especially with Juan Pablo [Montoya] there as well."

The Englishman thinks Benetton, which is now owned by Renault and run by the flamboyant Italian Flavio Briatore, will be more competitive than it was in 2000. He has already completed a number of tests in the Enstone team's machinery and is happy with what he has seen.

"It all seems pretty good," he said. "We've had a few days testing with last year's car and this year's engine, and we've been progressing and taking big steps every time. Michelin has impressed me in testing, too. Every time we go out they give us a new tyre which is shockingly better. Obviously, concentrating on race distances is what they need to work on, but I'm really pleased with the package I've got."

Button, who turns 21 this week, was criticised in some quarters last year for coming into F1 too early. He had completed over 50 junior formulae races before making his debut in Melbourne last year, but thinks Sauber's new signing Kimi Raikkonen - who will have competed in less than half that figure when he starts his first GP on March 4 - will find it difficult.

"I'd say to him that he's got to watch out because it is tougher than you think," warned Button. "I know Kimi is very quick and very talented, because I've raced against him in karts. He did a great job in Formula Renault, but that was with the best team and the best car - I don't know if that will cause him a problem. If he can do the job with that amount of experience, good luck to him, but Formula 3 [which Raikkonen has skipped to come straight into F1] was where I learnt everything about the mechanics and aerodynamics. That's where I got all my experience for F1."

Button was on fine form on the Autosport Central Stage. When asked who his all-time hero was, he replied: "Roy Chubby Brown [the foul-mouthed, flying helmeted northern comedian]". And when asked which driver he would most like to race against, his answer was "Esteban Tuero!"