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Jenson Button Q&A

There can have been no better indication of Jenson Button's talent that his performance at Suzuka, a track he'd seen previously only from a distance when competing on the small kart course next door. Suzuka is probably the hardest circuit of the season to learn, and always favours specialists who've raced in Japan, and yet Jenson was on the pace from Friday onwards. He outqualified team mate Ralf Schumacher in fifth, and then after a bad start finished in the same position. He was helped when Ralf went off, but the fact that Button took the greasy conditions in his stride and did not mess up was further proof of his improving form. Adam Cooper caught up with the rising star

"Obviously I've watched him in the past and saw him win his last World Championships. In the last few years he's been very, very unlucky. I think it's great for him to get the championship now, and I think he deserves it for his driving this year."

"It's been a good weekend, but it's just a pity about the start - not that it would have made any difference anyway."

"I don't know. I think I was looking behind or adjusting the radio or something. I wasn't really concentrating! I couldn't find the bite point, and stood still most of the time trying to find the bite point while everyone else was moving. It won't happen again, or not like that. But it didn't really matter anyway."

"I think it was interesting, it made it good fun. If it didn't rain I'm not sure I would have finished fifth - maybe I would have finished sixth behind Ralf. In Turn 9 he just got it a bit sideways, went across the gravel, and came back on behind."

"I was catching him but I wasn't close enough for him to hold me up. I think I was about a second behind him in the end, and then he went off. It was perfect for me, but not so good for him. We've got some points now, and it's pretty much secured third in the championship for BMW and Williams. They're quite happy. We've just get a good race in the next one, and hopefully get a good qualifying and three points. If Jacques doesn't get any, that puts me seventh in the championship. That's what I'm looking for."

"Yeah, I proved it is bloody difficult, because it was, and it took a long time. I got to grips with it in the end. On Saturday I think the reason we looked so slow was that we were doing a lot of race set-up work on old tyres, which definitely needed to be done. It's a great circuit, it really is, but it does take time. I can't wait to get back here."

"I think they're fantastic. To start with I thought it was a bit heavy, crowding around you when you come in to the paddock. You can't even walk in - you have to run round them. And when we came on Sunday morning they were everywhere across the car, and we couldn't get in! But it's good that there are so many enthusiastic fans."

"I haven't finished yet! Qualifying has definitely been great, and the last few races have been very good - apart from Monza, which was our own fault. It's good to actually get some points and finish fifth. In the last two races I've been in a good position, but I haven't been able to finish due to different things."

"I can't wait. From what I've heard it's tough, but most of the drivers don't know the circuit that well, so it's good circuit to go to I think. I've heard Williams weren't too quick there last year, but we'll see. I think it's going to be very hot, which doesn't help us."

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