Button receives Briatore's praise

Last year, Jenson Button was the subject much criticism from his boss, Flavio Briatore. Button struggled with the 2001 car, and often was out shown by his team mate Giancarlo Fisichella. Rumors even surfaced that Briatore had given Button a way out of his contract.

Briatore and Button spend a lot of time together during pre-season testing. After this Briatore expressed confidence that Button had matured as a driver and would not suffer the same frustrations this year. This was borne out in Malaysia as only Button's failing Renault prevented his first podium finish.

Briatore speaking to the The Independent: "Jenson is looking much stronger this year. He had a very frustrating year in 2001. It was difficult for a young driver to cope with such a situation. It was quite impossible. I believe he's changed a lot. He's changed his management, which looks like it's very good for Jenson. He's much more involved in the engineering, much better complicity for the whole team."