Be patient, Schumacher tells Button

"I don't think I could be like David," he said. "For me, that's too much. He can't go anywhere, people talk about everything he does, and everyone knows his every single move. If I'm in Monaco I get noticed because they're big into motor sport there. And every time I go out in London I get recognised. But everyone is always very friendly, the way it is at the moment is good."

His 10 podium finishes last year and third place finish in the drivers' championship demonstrated that he can compete. His BAR Honda car was consistently the next best on the track after Ferrari.

Changes to the sport, which include no tyre changes during the race, having to use the same engine across two race weekends and reduced speeds, are expected to benefit Button's challenge.

He knows it is time to deliver. "I'm going to Melbourne looking to win the first race, and I'm actually confident we can do that," he said.

"2005 for us is a season when we need to start winning races. Last year was an exceptional one for the team, getting 11 podiums, but this year we really need to start fighting with Ferrari.

"My goal is to stand on top of the podium and look down on Michael." His relationship with BAR was tested severely last year after Button's botched attempt to commit himself to driving for BMW Williams this season.

Button, poorly advised, caused dismay in mid 2004 when he signalled his belief that Williams offered a more competitive package for 2005. When the move was blocked on legal grounds he found himself having to repair burned bridges.

Button admitted: "Initially they were thinking 'why doesn't he want to be with us, we're having such a good year?' But when I sat down and talked to them and explained my reasons for wanting to leave they understood that the most important thing to me is me and my career.

"A driver's career is not so long in Formula One and we have to look for the best options for ourselves, to be in the right car and the right team. It really does make all the difference. I thought that BMW Williams would be the better option."

Pre-season form suggests he might have been lucky that matters conspired against him.

Disappointing performances have caused team owner Sir Frank Williams to play down the prospect of his cars being competitive straight away, while new investment from Honda and a management shake-up have seen BAR Honda set the pace in many of the test sessions.

Despite that, BAR Honda know it is up to them to match Button's drive. It is understood there are performance clauses in the contract between the driver and the team that could enable Button to walk away at the end of the season, probably back to Sir Frank who gave him his first chance in Formula One back in 2000.

BAR team chief Nick Fry said: "It comes down to a very simple thing: we have to give Jenson a car that befits his talents. If we do that, and get the results, then we are very confident that he will want to be with us."

Fry believes the new rules will suit Button: "Jenson's best quality is smooth driving. Tyres are going to be critical and Jenson is an ace card in that respect. Jenson is very demanding but he's a nice guy. For someone still relatively young he is a very mature person. The way he handles himself belies his years."