PROST SUPPORTS BUTTON SIGNING

Four-time world champion and former Williams driver Alain Prost admitted that he advised Jenson Button to drive for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, despite having an option on the British star's services for 2000.

Button had impressed the Prost Grand Prix team in a pre-Christmas test, prompting Prost to offer the 20-year old a drive with his junior squad in Formula 3000 and an F1 testing role.

However, when the BMW WilliamsF1 Team gave Button the chance to race in F1 in 2000, Prost chose not to stand in his way.

It was my advice to go to BMW WilliamsF1 Team gave revealed the French racing legend. "I did not want to block a driver getting on. I had the option but he was very confident about the move and I would not refuse it. Of course I would have liked him to stay at my team but he wanted to go to the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. He had a proposition and I advised him he should take it."

Prost unveiled his new AP03 challenger in Barcelona on Tuesday 1st February, and paid tribute to Button again at the launch.

"He is very mature for his age and he is quick," said Prost. "On the basis of the test he did for us, I think he is something special."

News of January 24th
Jenson Button will drive for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team alongside Ralf Schumacher in the FIA 2000 Formula 1 World Championship.

Button, who turned 20 last week, won the drive after a week of testing alongside BMW WilliamsF1 Team test driver Bruno Junqueira. The pair went head-to-head in a shoot-out for the drive yesterday at Barcelona where Button was marginally quicker.

The news, announced at the launch of the WilliamsF1 BMW FW22, means that Button will be the youngest Briton ever to contest a Grand Prix, and the fifth youngest of all time.