Button Ready to Lead from the Front

Jenson Button is ready to lead BAR to Formula One success this season as a race winner.

"I've had a very up and down few seasons in Formula One but it's all on the up now and I'm very confident in my ability," the Briton said at the 2004 BAR challenger launch on Sunday.

"You get so much experience working with bad cars or cars that can't win races that when you finally do work towards (a good) one it's a great feeling and that's what builds World Championships."

The 24-year-old, in his fifth season, must shoulder more responsibility at BAR this year after the departure of Canadian former champion Jacques Villeneuve. Button said he felt more involved, more confident and more assertive already.

"In 2003 I'd race and test and spend some time with the engineers and my teammate would have most of the opinions," said Button, who started last season feuding with the prickly Villeneuve.

"I definitely had weaknesses in 2003 and I've worked on them over the winter," he added.

Asked how realistic a first career podium was, possibly as soon as next month's season-opener in Australia, he replied: "Very. I wouldn't be talking about it otherwise.

"We need to be positive. Obviously it's great to have a positive atmosphere in the team but if there's no possibility we wouldn't be saying it."

New Role

Team boss David Richards said it would not be an easy season for Button, who partners Japan's Takuma Sato in one of the youngest team line-ups.

"There are drivers who get themselves involved in all aspects, who have an opinion, who make their presence felt, who are willing to be part of decision making within the organisation," he said.

"That's the role he's got to stand up to now, at 24 years of age. That is a very, very tall order and I'm not expecting that to happen overnight.

"But he's taken that on board as a challenge and he's starting to live up to that and spend more time visiting the factory... being a leader instead of being a follower. That's the role I'm expecting."

Button has to deliver if he is to continue to be talked of as a prospect on a par with the likes of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Renault's Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen, 23, and Alonso, 22, are winners already.

Button, after a debut season with Williams in 2000, struggled at Benetton in 2001 and lost his drive in 2002 after the team became Renault. BAR gave him back much of his lustre last season when he won 17 of the team's 26 points.

"I'm one of those drivers who has had to fight his way through Formula One a little bit more than others have had to, which is great," he said.

"You gain so much more experience that way and you're a much stronger driver in every area. 2004 is an important year for the whole team, including myself. It does need to be a good one."