Button looking to challenge Schumacher

After scoring his first podium finish in Malaysia a week ago, Jenson Button believes that BAR can challenge Ferrari and Michael Schumacher this season. Button finished third at Sepang, proving that the team's work over the winter is starting to give the results it has long been waiting for. The Englishman isn't predicting instant success but is confident things will steadily improve.

Jenson Button.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"If we put it all together there is no reason why we can't be fighting with Michael," said Button, according to the UK's Sunday Mirror newspaper. "What we need to do is perform as we did in Malaysia and qualify as we did at the previous race in Australia."

"The result on Sunday gives us a lot of hope. I don't like predicting wins, but we've only had two races out of 18 and there is a lot more to come from us. We've just got to keep working and keep improving."

Schumacher and Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished first and second in Malaysia, were some distance ahead of the rest but Button thinks they benefited in the early laps while he got held up.

"Juan and Michael got their advantage at the start of the race when I was in traffic," he explained. "For the next 40 laps our times were very similar. When you put it all together the signs are very, very good for us. I just hope we qualify well so we have the chance to race Ferrari and Williams next week."

Many were saying Ferrari was going to be dominant in 2004 after the first race where Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello scored a one-two finish some half a minute ahead of the field. Button doesn't think the rest of the season will be a walkover for the Scuderia.

"Michael has won both races but Juan was close in Malaysia and Renault competitive in Australia," he commented. "I don't think it's going to be easy for Ferrari. They are going to face a lot of competition and we are confident about what we can do and where we are going."