Button is ready to play a game of patience

Kate Battersby13 April 2012

When Jenson Button was a guest on Channel 4's The Priory, host Jamie Theakston put it to the 21 year old that he was fundamentally unchanged by the experience of becoming one of Formula One's youngest ever drivers.

Naturally Button agreed. Cut to a shot of Button's vast new house in Surrey, and then a picture of his apartment in Monaco, and a look at his Ferrari, and a view of Button surrounded by semi-clad females.

Button took it all in good heart, and continues to do so. In his debut year last season, his wage from Williams was £350,000, substantially increased since by lucrative endorsements and his two-year loan to Benetton. Last year, he was the boy wonder who almost scored points in his first race before his engine seized, then cleared that hurdle at the very next race.

Ultimately he made fewer mistakes in 2000 than any other driver - statistics show no one was less prone to spinning, running off or crashing than Button. The public loved him, and he won every newcomer award in town.

At Benetton, the idea must be to secure his first victory during his two-year loan period, something needed by a team without a win since 1997.

Button must bring much-needed driver impetus to Giancarlo Fisichella, who has not over-stretched himself during his last couple of seasons with Benetton. But outsiders, such as Williams technical director Patrick Head, have wondered whether Button's head is not being turned too much by the sport's glamour.

"It's a great life,'' agreed Button, whose best place to date is fourth.

"Any 21-year-old would want it. But my goal is to be world champion. I want to be the best in the world and be known as the best in Formula One.

"If I knew I would be finishing 12th or 13th for the rest of my F1 career, I would stop now.

"Progress at Benetton has to be looked at long-term, so don't expect too much for the first few races. It would be great if I could get my first podium, but we won't be looking for those until the second half the season.''

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