Button wants Oz podium

Both Button and team-mate Takuma Sato have been regular fixtures at the head of the testing timesheets for much of the off-season. Although there have been suggestions that BAR was making headline grabbing low-fuel runs, Button has continually insisted that the form displayed has been genuine, and is looking to prove this in Melbourne.

"I can't wait for the season to start," said Button. "We want to be strong from the off and if we can be quick in the first race it's only going to help our confidence and make us push on even more. The car has been very strong during winter testing and I'm expecting us to be reliable and to be fighting for podiums. I've never got a point at the Australian GP, so it would be really nice to start the season with points."

BAR ended 2003 on a high, finishing fourth and sixth in the Japanese Grand Prix, and team boss David Richards is looking to carry this momentum into the first race of 2004.

"Clearly the last race of the 2003 season was one of the highlights of our year and a great performance from the entire team," said Richards. "Seeing the way that Jenson and Takuma have continued to work together so well since then, and their testing times, I have little doubt that they will make a very strong combination.

"If we can deliver against our testing performance, which has been very encouraging, both drivers have a realistic chance of appearing on the podium at Albert Park."

BAR concluded its winter testing programme at Silverstone yesterday (Thursday), where Anthony Davidson shook down the three 006 cars bound for Australia on the GP venue's national circuit.