Button beats Coulthard again in Battle of Brits
( 2002-04-15 11:43 ) (7 )

Jenson Button and David Coulthard left Sunday's San Marino Formula One Grand Prix reflecting on what a difference a year can make.

This time last year, Coulthard came second to draw level with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in the championship -- the only time the German has been caught up with in the last 24 races.

Button was all at sea in an uncompetitive Benetton, renamed Renault this year as the French carmaker returns in force, and struggling to stay afloat as rumours bobbed around him about his future.

This season, it is Coulthard and his McLaren team who have been struggling to score points, while Button has been enjoying a renaissance.

The Renault driver's fifth place on Sunday, one ahead of Coulthard, was his third successive points finish in four races and kept him firmly in fourth place in the championship.

Although he does not measure himself against his compatriots, he is still the leading Briton, heading Coulthard, Eddie Irvine and Allan McNish in the standings.

Imola left him two points clear of Coulthard, the highest ranked British driver for the past two seasons who at the last race in Brazil became the second highest British points' scorer of all time.

Renault are just one point adrift of McLaren in the constructors' championship.

BIG BOOST

"Being fourth in the championship still after four races is a big boost," said the 22-year-old Englishman, who came into Formula One with Williams in 2000.

"This was one of my best races ever.

"It was a very difficult race because this is a very difficult circuit to be consistent on. It was good to be up against the McLarens, beating them really.

"(McLaren boss) Ron (Dennis) has to watch out...we're coming strong," he added.

McLaren have had problems since the start of the season, difficulties that continued when Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was called in by the team at Imola for safety reasons after his car developed an exhaust problem.

"The weekend's results show our current performance level," said Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug. "We are too slow and everybody in the team knows that we have to improve and work even harder."

Button, however, expects them to fight back hard.

"It's going to be a difficult one (to stay ahead of McLaren," he said. "I think the most important thing for us is to stay as close as we can to them and then, hopefully, fight it out a bit further into the season.

"Normally, they have got quite good reliability and if they have it will be tough.

"But I think we're going to be very competitive on all the circuits this season and the good thing with our team is that we just keep on progressing."

Button was also confident that Ferrari, despite their dominance at their home track, would have a harder time in future.

"I don't think there will be another race where they have such a lead as that," he said.

"I just pushed like hell throughout the race and round here it's very difficult," Button added. "Every corner is so difficult, you can make one little mistake and you're off the circuit.

"It's been such a difficult circuit for me before."