Valencia, Apr 29: Button's rise to Formula One was breathtaking. Williams boss Frank Williams summoned him to a meeting by calling him on his mobile while the youngster was in a pub with friends. Button swiftly made an impression and was preferred to regular test driver Bruno Junqueira for the vacant seat in 2000, hearing he had got the drive only minutes before he faced the media at the launch of the team's new car. By March, aged just 20, he had become the youngest driver to score points in Formula One with sixth place in Brazil 2000, his second race, after compatriot David Coulthard's McLaren was disqualified. Since then his career has been a roller-coaster. He was replaced at Williams by Juan Pablo Montoya and at Benetton (Renault) by Spaniard Fernando Alonso.
He joined BAR at the end of 2002 is now the effective team leader after the departure of Canada's former champion Jacques Villeneuve.


Button's second place lifted BAR to third in the championship, equal on points with Williams but ahead on race placings.


With nearly a quarter of the championship over, BAR have replaced McLaren among the big four in terms of results.


Renault remain a key part of the equation, second overall in the constructors' championship with 31 points to BAR and Williams' 27. Ferrari have 64, McLaren five.


But BAR have looked very strong in testing at the Circuit de Catalunya and expect to keep up the pressure.


Bureau Report