Davidson: Villeneuve on a Mission to Destroy Button

BAR Honda test driver Anthony Davidson has warned Briton Jenson Button that he could be ditched by the team if he fails to match up to teammate Jacques Villeneuve this year.

Davidson, who raced with Button in karts in the past, believes Villeneuve is out to prove he is better than Button and revealed there are already plans to replace one of them with Takuma Sato in 2004.

Villeneuve, who has not won a race since he became world champion in 1997, has said he will quit the sport if his team fail to provide him with a car that can help him improve his results this season.

But Davidson said: "Jacques is on a mission to destroy Jenson because he really wants to stay in F1. The way I see it one of them won't be there next year. Sato will be driving one of the cars as a contracted Honda driver.

"Don't take it as read that it will be Jacques who goes. It could be Jenson if he is thrashed by Jacques - and so far in testing, I'd say Jacques is getting the upper hand.

"The odds are stacked against Jenson but if the car's easy to drive then that might suit his style and we might see similar performances to when he was with Williams a few years ago.

Davidson also believes Formula One rookie Ralph Firman, who will race alongside highly-rated Italian Giancarlo Fisichella at Jordan this year, will struggle to make his mark on the sport.

"He'll be quick but he's never going to get near Fisichella," said Davidson. "Ralph won't have a fair chance to get on terms because Jordan have opted to only test at the races.

"Fisi is one of the best drivers out there and should be with one of the top three teams. I know how good Sato is and he got blown away by Fisi at Jordan last year."