Button to land F1 drive with Williams?

Both team boss Frank Williams and BMW boss Gerhard Berger have lent their support to the idea of F3 star Jensen Button joining the F1 squad in place of Alex Zanardi.

At the launch of the new BMW-Williams livery on Monday, former grand prix driver Berger denied it would be too risky for the F1 squad to sign up the 19-year-old British racer.

'No, I don't think so - actually I like this idea a lot,' he said.

'I have met his guy and he is full of spirit. He has quite good results from the past and I have no problems with the idea of signing him.

'We have a very strong number one driver for this year in Ralf [Schumacher] and so why should we not take a risk with the second one?

'It's Frank's [Williams, team boss] decision, but we are discussing it and it could happen.

'Alex [Zanardi] is still under contract and is talking with us, but he was very unhappy with last year's car and he wants to know why.'

Berger also insisted the jump from F3 to F1 is not too high for Button.

'I did it,' he said, 'Martin [Brundle] did it and Ayrton [Senna] did it. If we can do it and if he has the talent, he can do it too.'

Team boss Williams confirmed at the launch that the outfit was planning to test Button and Brazilian F3000 racer Bruno Junqueira for the drive at Jerez this weekend.

Williams also rejected the idea that Button is too young to be considered.

'I think he'll be 20 in a few days time,' he joked. 'It's quite a risk. He [Button] says he's definitely ready for F1, and many people say he's exceptional.

'One of the reasons personally why I want to make this test happen is because like a lot of people in the pitlane in 1991, we felt idiots when Eddie Jordan turned up with Michael Schumacher.

'We'd all been sleeping and he was wide awake, and I don't intend that to happen again.

'For the sake of a test, it may be a waste of time, but he may be a great driver. The purpose of the test is to see if he's got it.'