Wednesday March 8th, 2000

Britain's Jenson Button wants to make his critics eat their words in his Formula One debut at Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix. "I've had a good look around at the track and it looks great, the sort of track I like," the 20-year-old said after returning to the Williams garage following a walk around the track with his father John on Wednesday.

"I could say I am going to just aim to finish Sunday's race -- and that would be nice, especially if I am in the points -- but I am aiming to be quick and to show people what I can do.

"I'd rather not finish the race and yet be fast than go slow and be ignored," he said. "I think that is more likely to show people what I can do."

Former driver Martin Brundle on Sunday joined a chorus of concern about Button's Formula One debut.

"I do not believe that young Button should be on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix next Sunday," he wrote in the Sunday Express newsapaper.

"I feel it is too early for him, not just by a season but by two or three years," he said.

Canada's 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve said in January, on the day that Button was announced as Williams' replacement for Italian Alex Zanardi, that Button would be in for a shock when the season started. "It's tougher than he's ever imagined -- I'm not sure he knows what he's letting himself in for," he said.

Finland's Mika Salo said he was concerned for the safety of the Briton and other drivers. "I hope he can handle it because if he can't he will hurt himself or somebody else," the Sauber driver said.

Responding to all that, Button said: "I would not be here if I did not think I was ready. I don't want to say anything that will start an argument, but people have to see me drive first before they say anything like that."

And, far from being intimidated by the situation, Button confirmed that he is relishing the prospect of battling it out with the best in the business. "I just can't wait to be alongside drivers like Michael Schumacher. This is what Formula One is all about for me," added Button.