BAR want to continue good streak

Jenson Button refused to allow the joy of his first Formula One podium finish, achieved with a dynamic display in Malaysia at the weekend, to cloud the long-term goals of the BAR team.

One-off achievements are not what the team is about.

When Button finished sixth in Australia a fortnight ago, BAR boss David Richards was praised for the way the team responded. There was hardly a smile to be seen in the paddock. It was a “solid” start, nothing more.

Twelve months earlier, by Richards’ own admission, finishing in the points first time out would have prompted backslapping and celebrations all round.

This year things are different. Yes, the champagne corks were popped and the cheers echoed around the BAR garage. There was a moment to be enjoyed. But far from leaving the team satisfied, Button’s success at Sepang will work to drive BAR on harder.

The 24-year-old will be at the forefront of that, having risen into the role of number one driver this season in impressive fashion, pushing the team on they developed a car to compete with the established powers.

That dedication paid off and it will not slip now just because he has finally tasted the champagne.

“It was great to finish third. It is obviously not the pinnacle for what we want but it is a step in the right direction,” said Button.

“We expected these results at the start of the season, looking at the testing and how much work we put in over the winter. I think we have done a great job.

“Everyone is really positive but we don’t want to look too far forward. We have to go into the next race in Bahrain looking for the same result and we will see what happens at the end of the year.

“It would be nice if we could be as consistent as we have been here. We hope we can move forward at the same time as all the other top teams but we still have 20 seconds to gain over a race. Michael Schumacher was very fast again.”

Button’s attitude and enthusiasm, following the departure of Jacques Villeneuve, has frequently brought hearty praise from Richards and BAR’s technical director Geoff Willis.

They watched with a mixture of nerves and delight as Button held on to finish ahead of Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari despite suffering mechanical problems.

Only Michael Schumacher and Williams’ Juan Pablo Montoya beat him – just the company Richards envisaged his team keeping.

“Jenson has just done a great job, he has done everything we would expect of him. I am so pleased for him personally,” said Richards, outlining how much of an asset Button is to the team.

“It was not just a success by attrition of others, it was success by pure performance. Jenson is building all the time, getting better all the time.

“You have to deliver, you can’t just talk a good story in this business, you are measured every two weeks.”

They were words echoed by Willis, who had lobbied Richards to sign Button for BAR in the first place.

“I have been very confident with Jenson from when David and I talked about getting him in the car,” said Willis.

“I certainly wanted him in the car and he is doing what we wanted. He matures very quickly. He has a lot of experience. He is very smooth, calm, not easily ruffled. He and the engineers work very well together and he fits well with the team.

“He is stepping up and gets more confidence all the time.”

Victories, though, remained a taboo subject. One day, of course, but for now competing consistently with the established powers remains the primary goal.

“Let’s get a few podiums under our belt and be realistic,” said Richards.

“We are perhaps a couple of steps up the ladder but we must not be complacent and we must be realistic about where we are.

“Last year was the year of building, this year was a year to put results on the board. I think we have started to do it.

“We have set ourselves some high goals and standards. This is great, great progress.

“We are fighting now where we said we would be. We are fighting in amongst the teams that get on the podium.”

This last weekend will now be filed away as a fine memory as the team gear up to continue fighting the good fight in the heat of Bahrain.

“I don’t think you can ever make a sudden step. You have to make logical progression, keep calm and keep that continuous push,” said Willis.

“Nobody ever wins suddenly. It might appear suddenly to come from nowhere, but it is steady progress. Now we are close enough to start fighting with the top teams. We certainly don’t want to get too complacent.

“We are not the biggest team and we have to be focused that we have the right things in the car, the right things in the engine.

“We just have to make sure we keep developing the car and we will have new parts for Bahrain and for Imola. We have to make sure we don’t falter.”