Sunday March 12th, 2000

By Timothy Collings

Jenson Button's father John summed up his own and his son's feelings after the 20-year-old Briton's promising Formula One debut in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

"It feels like we've joined the club at last," he said. "It's like an initiation and I am glad it's over. He did well. We are proud of him, but he would have loved to have got a point...."

Button, who won his place in the Williams team only after a dramatic shootout test against Brazilian Bruno Junquiera, had been criticised before the race for being too young and inexperienced to be in Formula One.

But after a poor qualifying session on Saturday when, after crashing in the morning, he ended up taking 21st place on the grid, he showed his ability by rising through the field to run as high as sixth.

Unfortunately, with 11 laps remaining, his engine failed and he was forced to retire -- to a warm reception and praise on all sides.

Button said: "After all that has happened and even without managing to finish, I feel it has been a very good day for me. It would have been great to complete the race, but I am pretty happy to have started 21st and driven through to sixth position.

"I tried to stay out of trouble and to keep myself in good shape. It was a fairly straightforward race and certainly a good start to my career in Formula One.

"I think I showed a few people what I could do.

Hectic First Lap

"I didn't have the best of starts, but it didn't matter that much as so many other drivers seemed to have even worse ones than me. The first lap was hectic and then it settled down. I enjoyed it," said Button.

His only complaint afterwards was about a sore shoulder and left arm from the strain of driving his 47-laps race.

"He is getting some physio at the moment," said his father. "And that is not the end of it. Frank Williams wants us to fly home tonight because Jenson has to go testing at Silverstone on Wednesday and Thursday.

"There is so much going on around us at the moment it is hard to know what to say, but it is great to get this one out of the way. When he came to me after the race, he didn't say anything but we had a big hug and that was it."

Both Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello joined in the praise for Button while BMW sporting director Gerhard Berger, a former driver, said he had shown his high promise.

"I was not surprised by him and he showed what he can do," he said. "He is a great talent, but he is going to have some much tougher and more disappointing weekends than this!"

Team chief Frank Williams said: "Despite his lack of a finish, Jenson's underlying performance, his pace and his rhythm promise great things."

Technical director Patrick Head said: "Jenson drove a faultless race and it was unfortunate he had his problem with his engine. To do what he did from 21st on grid is something very encouraging for the future."

Even former champion Jackie Stewart, who had said Button should not be going straight from kindergarten to university, admitted: "He drove very well, it was an impressive performance from an intelligent and level-headed driver."