Irvine Slams Button and Raikkonen

Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine criticised McLaren and Benetton for their 2002 drivers choice, saying Jenson Button should be sacked and that Nick Heidfeld would have been a better option for McLaren than Kimi Raikkonen.

Irvine said that German Heidfeld is a better prospect than his former Sauber teammate Finn Raikkonen, adding that he has doubts over Raikkonen's true potential, despite an impressive debut season.

"There has been a great deal of fuss about Kimi Raikkonen taking Mika's place at McLaren but that could easily fall rather flat," Irvine told The Sun.

"Everyone has been going crazy about how good the young Finn is but I have never been completely sold on all the hype. You only have to look at his last few races and he has certainly not produced anything special.

"If you take the season as a whole, his Sauber teammate Nick Heidfeld has looked a far better proposition. It makes you wonder whether McLaren boss Ron Dennis has made the right choice."

Speaking about Button, though, Irvine was even more outspoken, stating that Benetton should have ditched the young Briton altogether, preferring Giancarlo Fisichella over him.

"I feel Benetton should have done everything possible to hang on to Fisichella," Irvine said. "In fact, if I had been the team boss I would have ditched Jenson Button so that Fisichella and [Jarno] Trulli could have driven together.

"I'd have to say: 'Jenson, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.' I know Jenson had a great debut season with Williams but he has been a big disappointment this time around."