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Button declares rivalry with Villeneuve now resolved
Monaco, May 29: Jenson Button has insisted that his bitter feud with BAR team-mate Jacques Villeneuve is over.
Monaco, May 29: Jenson Button has insisted that his bitter feud with BAR team-mate Jacques Villeneuve is over.
The 23-year-old Briton admitted that the row with the former world champion had been a bit "pathetic" but said they were now working together to move BAR-Honda up the Formula One grid.
Button and Villeneuve have heavily criticised each other several times since the launch of the 2003 car in Barcelona in January.
"I think we both said a few things that were a little bit pathetic, but they had to be said," Button said. "The thing is we are both very competitive. But we are working pretty well together now which is good."
Villeneuve said at the launch that he would not respect Button, who joined BAR after two fluctuating seasons at Renault, until he had proved himself on the track - then likened his team-mate to a boy band.
The duo were embroiled in controversy at the first race when in Australia when Button got stuck behind Villeneuve in the pit lane during a botched stop.
Button hit out in a newspaper column only for Villeneuve to respond saying the Somerset-born racer had proved how weak he was by not complaining face-to-face.
Asked if he felt he had earned Villeneuve's respect by his performances this year, Button said at the Monaco Grand Prix: "I don't really care, I am not that interested."
Button has outqualified Villeneuve four times in six races this season but the picture has been skewed by the Canadian choosing to run heavier fuel loads to improve his chances in races.
BAR boss David Richards said: "There was a little bit of friction between him and Jacques earlier on which we have managed to control now and point in the right direction.
"It's very constructive these days and I'd suggest if you asked Jacques now he's actually saying to himself that Jenson has earned my respect and he is pretty quick, perhaps we can work together.
"They have been very, very equally matched. You cannot get away from the fact that we have run different strategies.
"Jacques has regularly run a heavier fuel load in qualifying so you can't have a direct comparison. But if I was to weigh it up I'd say it's six of one half a dozen of the other where they stand at the moment."
Button equalled his best ever F1 result with a fourth place at the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago and is hoping to go one better with his maiden podium in Monte Carlo this weekend.
"It would be great if I could get it here," he added. "The car has been reasonably competitive for the whole of the season but we have just not got the results. We are not one of the top teams yet, but it is a good position for us to be in at the moment."
Bureau Report
The 23-year-old Briton admitted that the row with the former world champion had been a bit "pathetic" but said they were now working together to move BAR-Honda up the Formula One grid.
Button and Villeneuve have heavily criticised each other several times since the launch of the 2003 car in Barcelona in January.
"I think we both said a few things that were a little bit pathetic, but they had to be said," Button said. "The thing is we are both very competitive. But we are working pretty well together now which is good."
Villeneuve said at the launch that he would not respect Button, who joined BAR after two fluctuating seasons at Renault, until he had proved himself on the track - then likened his team-mate to a boy band.
The duo were embroiled in controversy at the first race when in Australia when Button got stuck behind Villeneuve in the pit lane during a botched stop.
Button hit out in a newspaper column only for Villeneuve to respond saying the Somerset-born racer had proved how weak he was by not complaining face-to-face.
Asked if he felt he had earned Villeneuve's respect by his performances this year, Button said at the Monaco Grand Prix: "I don't really care, I am not that interested."
Button has outqualified Villeneuve four times in six races this season but the picture has been skewed by the Canadian choosing to run heavier fuel loads to improve his chances in races.
BAR boss David Richards said: "There was a little bit of friction between him and Jacques earlier on which we have managed to control now and point in the right direction.
"It's very constructive these days and I'd suggest if you asked Jacques now he's actually saying to himself that Jenson has earned my respect and he is pretty quick, perhaps we can work together.
"They have been very, very equally matched. You cannot get away from the fact that we have run different strategies.
"Jacques has regularly run a heavier fuel load in qualifying so you can't have a direct comparison. But if I was to weigh it up I'd say it's six of one half a dozen of the other where they stand at the moment."
Button equalled his best ever F1 result with a fourth place at the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago and is hoping to go one better with his maiden podium in Monte Carlo this weekend.
"It would be great if I could get it here," he added. "The car has been reasonably competitive for the whole of the season but we have just not got the results. We are not one of the top teams yet, but it is a good position for us to be in at the moment."
Bureau Report