Button Not a Mature Driver, Says Watson

Jenson Button is nothing more than a "kid" who needs to grow up and start committing himself to his quest for the Formula One World Championship, according to former British Grand Prix winner John Watson.

Button joined Formula One with Williams in 2000 and had a wayward season with Benetton last year before stepping up his game again at Renault this season. But Watson believes there is still an element of doubt over the Briton's future.

"Jenson, to me, is still a kid who is playing with the toys," said Watson. "He still has to establish his own benchmark as a driver having done a very good job in the first part of the season.

"There are still running question marks over his ultimate potential and he is a kid. I still think in terms of his maturity as being a Grand Prix driver, he goes 'hey guys, look at my new sunglasses' when he goes into a technical meeting."

Watson does not doubt that the 22-year-old Briton, who rose to Formula One from relative obscurity in Formula Three, has a talent for racing but Button's high-profile social life has left the Irishman with concerns.

Button famously moored his brand new motor yacht outside the Monaco pitlane last year in what many thought it was an ill-advised display of his new-found wealth and Watson believes Button needs to commit more to another team if he is to succeed in the future.

"Talent these days is not enough," said Watson. "There has got to be this application and commitment and I don't feel that Renault is the ideal place for Jenson.

"I am still not convinced that being with a team run by Flavio...I would like to see him go to a team which is a more motor racing team like McLaren or Williams, for example, but the possibility of getting into one of those teams, I think, are very remote.

Button has been contacted by other teams and it is rumoured that he could be ousted from Renault to make way for Spaniard Fernando Alonso next year. Jaguar boss Niki Lauda has confirmed talks with the young Briton, but Watson believes a move to the British team would not be ideal for Button.

"Ideally no, because it would mean a three-year programme for Jenson to involve himself in the team and I don't think Jenson is mature enough as a driver to carry that responsibility, certainly not as a lead driver," he said.