Thursday January 13th, 2000

By Alan Baldwin

British teenager Jenson Button is not ready for Formula One and could damage his prospects by entering the fray too early, former world champion Jody Scheckter said on Thursday.

Button, 19, is being considered as a possible replacement for Italian Alex Zanardi at Williams and is due to test for the team in Spain at the weekend along with 23-year-old Brazilian Bruno Junqueira.

The one who impresses the most could find himself as German Ralf Schumacher's teammate when the new season starts in Australia on March 12.

South African Scheckter, champion in 1979, whose own 19-year-old son Tomas is a bright prospect, said Button was the only driver he saw in Formula Three last season with the potential to shine in the top category. But he was still not polished enough.

"It's an experience thing more than an age thing," said the South African, still the last driver to win the championship for Ferrari.

"Although Jenson has got Formula One potential...I think he made too many mistakes this year to really be ready for Formula One.

"He could get in and not do well enough this year and find himself gone forever. That's the gamble they need to take."

Future in Youth

Scheckter entered Formula One aged 22 and he conceded that, in Button's position, he would have taken the chance because Formula One is so hard to break into.

But he would not want Tomas, the younger of his two sons, to enter Formula One in 2000.

"In reality it does not make any difference if he gets there at 19 or 22. It's really how successful he is going to be when he gets there," he said.

Scheckter said the opportunity presented to Button could also be seen as a new trend in Formula One.

"There's a change in the mood of Formula One where they say we need some fresh blood now. We need the next superstar and we are taking chances," he said.

Frank Williams told Autosport magazine this week: "One reason I want this test to happen is that a lot of us felt like idiots when Eddie Jordan turned up with Michael (Schumacher) at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991.

"We had all been sleeping and he was wide awake. I don't intend to allow that to happen again for the sake of a test. It could be a waste of time, but he might be a great driver."

Scheckter said his son had the potential to be better than he was. "I'd be very surprised if Tomas is not in Formula One in the next three years," he predicted.

"He's very technical and very good at sorting the car out. The great drivers fit into that category."

Ferrari Get it Right

Scheckter also predicted that Schumacher would be stronger than ever this season, particularly with the new policy of granting his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello equal status at the start of the season.

"I've always said that Eddie Irvine was not strong enough at Ferrari," he said of the Brazilian's predecessor. "I think Barrichello will be faster and push Michael more.

"Michael is not going to crumble. If anything, he will make fewer mistakes and do a better job.

"I think the way they are going about it is the correct way, it looks more that (Ferrari's Luca di) Montezemolo is running the team and Schumacher's not now."