Villeneuve fires shot across Button's bow

MOTOR SPORT/News Round-Up: Jenson Button has been told by new team-mate Jacques Villeneuve that he is yet to earn the Canadian's respect as a grand prix driver. The 1997 world champion warned the Englishman that he will have to step up his performances of the past three years if he is to help make BAR a force next season.

Villeneuve has a reputation of playing mind games with his team-mates and used yesterday's unveiling of the new car in Barcelona to launch his psychological attack.

"I will respect Jenson once he goes quick on a race track," said the Canadian, who according to team sources has hardly said a word to Button since he joined the Brackley-based outfit. "That's the only way you can respect another race car driver.

"The key thing is, 'Do you respect your team-mate or not?' If you do respect him, like it was the case with Olivier Panis last year, then everything works fine and no one gets destroyed.

"But if you do not respect your team-mate then it just happens, you can't help yourself."

Asked if Button, who is 23 next week, will be able to spearhead BAR's challenge on an equal footing with him next season, Villeneuve added: "If he steps up from his first three years yes, if not, no.

"I have already won races in the past, I know what I can do and people know what I can do."

But Button insisted he would not be bothered if he could not get along with Villeneuve off the track - as long as they worked together on it.

"All my team-mates have been pretty tough," said Button, who partnered Ralf Schumacher at Williams in his maiden year before being teamed with Giancarlo Fisichella then Jarno Trulli at Renault.

"Ralf was a very quick driver and the two Italians were awesomely quick. Jacques has got more experience than most of them. But he has been there and done it. He has been world champion.

"I think Jacques and I will work together as team-mates. We will share information. I am sure there are going to be times when we don't get along but there will be times when we work well together."

Button has targeted a maiden podium finish in the BAR-Honda 005, which he will test for the first time today, but is confident the team, who announced a name change from British American Racing, will eventually make him a world beater.

"I'm confident that I will get a podium," he added. "This is a very exciting time for the team and I am sure we will move forward."