We can catch Ferrari, Button promises supporters
Button urged the sport’s millions of supporters worldwide not to lose heart after just one round into the season and predicted Ferrari’s main rivals would hit back to ensure 2004 provides the thrills and spills Formula One so desperately needs.
“I was shocked how quick they were here. But then they were very quick here last year and we got to Malaysia and it was a lot closer,” said Button, who finished an encouraging sixth in his improving BAR.
“This is one race. What do the fans expect to see? Everyone wants great racing and there were some great moves and I thought some pretty good racing, some pretty close racing.
“Fair enough, it probably wasn’t one of the most exciting races, but then again compared to 2002 it is probably one of the better races.
“I think when we get to Malaysia it will be a lot closer. Don’t worry.”
Unfortunately, most of the intriguing racing Button referred to was for points behind the Ferrari pair as he, Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya wrestled for places.
Before even half of yesterday’s race was completed, thoughts were turning with alarm back to 2002 and that infamous season which forced Formula One to introduce a raft of rule changes in a bid to rein in the rampant Ferraris.
Between them, Schumacher and Barrichello won 15 of the 17 races that year and the German wrapped up the world championship with six rounds still remaining and interest in the sport waned.
As a result of the rule changes, last season went to the wire and Schumacher only pipped McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen by two points in the final race.
The signs through Friday’s free practice at Albert Park had been ominous and after Ferrari posted the 10 fastest lap times, Ecclestone described their dominance as “a disaster”.
But after Schumacher’s 71st Grand Prix victory and the 16th Ferrari one-two since the all-conquering pair came together in 2000, no-one in the pit lane was ready to concede a pattern had been set for the season.
Not least Ferrari themselves, who will reserve judgement on their own performance until after Malaysia, when the steamy conditions and high track temperatures provide a far sterner test to their Bridgestone tyres than cool Melbourne.
Even in 2002, Ferrari could not win in Kuala Lumpur.
Ralf Schumacher won in Malaysia two years ago, Raikkonen last year and with Bahrain making its debut in round three, now is the time for Ferrari’s chief rivals to prove the prancing horse will not be in a race of its own.
“Ferrari are absolutely from another world,” said the Williams star, who finished fourth in Melbourne.
“If Williams can’t catch them this year then maybe they will never catch them. I am not frightened (by their pace) but I am alarmed.”
Renault’s engineering director Pat Symonds, after watching Fernando Alonso claim third place, vowed Ferrari would not dominate for the entire season.
“We all have a lot of work to do to catch them. But we will,” he said.
David Coulthard, frustrated with his McLaren given he desperately needs a competitive season to secure a decent seat for next year, had been expecting Ferrari to be quick after watching their winter testing in Imola.
“You have to take your hat off to them. They kept out all the politics during the winter, came here and delivered.”
Schumacher, though, refused to get carried away and echoed the sentiments of his team boss.
“I do not want to predict the season based on just one race,” he said.
“I think Malaysia shows the true picture.”
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