Mansell: Maiden win can be springboard for Button

Former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell has warned Jenson Button he must “get a win under his belt pretty quickly” if he is to fulfil his potential.

Mansell said Honda driver Button faces a make-or-break season and has to “get the monkey off his back this year”.

Mansell, the 1992 world champion, said: “One hundred grands prix without winning is a heck of a target now, isn’t it? I think he should use it as a strength, to use the negative into a positive.

“He should say: ’Okay, this year I am going to get the monkey off my back and at least get a win on the way.’

Mansell believes Button has the ability to challenge for world title glory once he has grabbed his all-important first victory.

Mansell needed 72 races to claim his first triumph but then went to win 30 races and grab the title.

“I hope it isn’t something that will dog him but he needs to get a win under his belt and pretty quickly,” he added.

“As soon as he does that, he will springboard and be a proven front-runner and winner.

“If not then he has got problems to address later in the year because Rubens Barichello is not going to pull over for him. Rubens is going to do a fantastic job and Rubens is a proven race winner, but I think it will spur Jenson on for better things.

“Honda is one of the great names in motorsport and a great manufacturer. I just hope they can do the job because I am a Jenson fan.”

Mansell, now 52, was speaking at the launch of his sons’ (Leo, 21, and Greg, 18) Formula BMW motor racing careers at the Unipart headquarters in Cowley, Oxford.

Mansell welcomed the chance to re-join the mainstream of the hectic motor racing this year.

He said: “It reminds me of when Paul Newman said: ‘Come on over here, Nigel, and you can enjoy the Wild West lifestyle.’ It’s a bit like that all over again.”

“I’m incredibly busy on all fronts now and the boys have done a great job getting up to speed in such a short period of time. I’m racing myself again and having a fantastic time. I’ve got a lot on my plate.

“Both of the boys have put in a lot of work and shown they have really natural speed. But I went out in an F3 car at Silverstone and really enjoyed myself – and showed them I can still set a marker time for them to go at.”

But he revealed his renewed passion for Formula One is undimmed.

He even tipped Michael Schumacher, who at 37 is still younger than Mansell was when he won the 1992 crown, to bounce back and win an eighth title this year with Ferrari.

Mansell said: “Michael is Class X. I mean he is unique. He can bounce back for sure and I think Ferrari will be very competitive again.

“Don’t write him off. I think he will be winning races again. Ferrari just took it easy last season. They had a sabbatical year and they are going to bounce back, believe me!”