Button will be champ says Richards

BAR boss David Richards believes Jenson Button has the potential to be World Champion and a couple of years working with the team should see him fighting for his chance. After his 2000 debut with Williams, Button was hailed as a hot property but a ...

BAR boss David Richards believes Jenson Button has the potential to be World Champion and a couple of years working with the team should see him fighting for his chance. After his 2000 debut with Williams, Button was hailed as a hot property but a dismal year with Benetton in 2001 had the critics out in force. This season saw improvement with Renault and Button reportedly had a few teams interested in his services for 2003. Richards was pleased the young Englishman opted for BAR and will do his best to give Button a car that will prove his talents.

Jenson Button.

Photo by Mark Gledhill.

"Jenson has got what it takes to be world champion, no question about it," Richards told British tabloid the News Of The World. "And we will be working flat out to give him the car in which to do it. Several teams wanted him. Every man and his dog was involved. I'm very pleased that Jenson chose us and put his future in our hands. He has made absolutely the right decision. He won't be disappointed."

"I've explained to him where we're going, and how we're going to get there. I've surrounded myself with a great team of people and Jenson can see that. We need to build the team over the next three to four years and I want someone to build alongside us. Jenson is not going to be world champion next year. But within the next two to three years I believe, if we get the car right, and he develops as I expect he will do, he'll be right up there."

Richards added that Button could have made more money going to a different team: "It's encouraging to see that money is not the only motivation for him. He looks at things very objectively," he said. Button finished seventh in this year's Driver's Championship with 14 points.