Button still has Williams chance

Jenson Button is still in with a chance of returning to BMW Williams according to team principal Sir Frank Williams. After a good rookie year with the team, when he scored 12 points in the Driver's Championship, the Englishman had a dismal season with Benetton last year and many have written him off. Williams still thinks Button has what it takes.

"Jenson knows he has to get better this year but in testing he is looking very good at the moment," he said. "If he is better than the two drivers we have then he would be in the frame for 2003, but it is much too early to try and guess what will be happening next year. We have a vested interest in Jenson and he is still held in the highest regard with this team."

On the subject of those two drivers the team has, Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams played down the supposed antagonism between them. Much has been made of the difference in personality between the two and how they dislike each other, but Williams insists it does not affect them working together.

"They may never be great friends because they are very different kinds of people but they have both realised that they need each other if the team is to be successful," he explained.“ I think they both realise that they have to share their knowledge and that their main competitor is always going to be another team."

BMW Williams emerged as a challenger for Ferrari and McLaren last season and many expect them to be a threat in 2002. Williams himself is cautious: "I think we need to take a look at the first two or three races before we can draw any conclusions. I am sure that McLaren and Ferrari will both be very competitive again and Sauber also look to be in good shape."