Button is taming the lions

by Reuters on Motorsport 30/04/2010, 10:56

Sir Jackie Stewart has had a rethink about his warning that Formula One champion Jenson Button was stepping into the 'lion's den' at McLaren and risked being mauled.

Speaking to reporters at Silverstone on Thursday, the retired triple world champion recognised his fellow Briton appeared to be thriving in his new surroundings.

Button, who joined from Brawn at the end of last season, has won two out of four races so far this year and leads the standings while compatriot Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, has yet to stand on top of the podium.

"It is working much better than I think anyone could have expected," said Stewart. "I did say he (Button) would be walking into the lions' den. What he has proved is he can handle that den very well. I think if he keeps driving the way he is at the present time I would have to say he is the favourite of the two (for the title)."

Stewart said however that he still considered Hamilton, Formula One's youngest champion who is now 25, to be the better racer. Hamilton, who has been backed by McLaren for more than a decade, has had some storming races in which he has fought through the pack to the podium. He and Button finished one-two at the most recent race in China.

"Jenson, at 30, is just the right age to have gained experience and knowledge and be able to apply it," said Stewart. "Nobody can pass cars like Lewis can pass cars. Lewis is going to win races this year, I have no doubt about that at all."

Damon Hill, Britain's 1996 world champion, said both McLaren drivers had a good chance to capture a second title this season.

While Stewart compared their contrasting styles to the hard-charging Nigel Mansell (Hamilton) and super smooth Alain Prost (Button), Hill saw echoes of the fiery 1989 McLaren partnership of Prost and Brazilian Ayrton Senna.

"I think they get on better together than perhaps those two did, thankfully," he added. "But in terms of their style Jenson is definitely coming into a maturity in his driving. He doesn't need to prove he can win races and championships and he is starting to enjoy himself. When you get someone in that zone then they can be quite impenetrable. I sense Lewis feels a little bit frustrated, perhaps he has had a bit of bad luck in a couple of races. But he will definitely be back in the frame very soon."