DECEMBER 11, 2000

Button will be a Williams champion - Berger

BRITON Jenson Button will become a world champion when he returns to Williams, according to BMW Motorsport director Gerhard Berger.

Berger, speaking at BMW's end-of-season party in Solden, Austria, backed Button, who is now on a two-year loan move to Benetton-Renault, to become the world champion on his return to the Grove-based outfit.

Former Ferrari driver Berger helped Button through his debut season in Formula One and is convinced he has what it takes to lift a world title.

"We had a great season this year, especially for Jenson Button," Berger said. "It was nice to work with him and made some great performances. It will be difficult to see him in another team next year, but he is still young and he can still improve.

"That is good for us because I understand Frank Williams has a long-term deal with Jenson and I wouldn't be surprised if one day you see Jenson Button as world champion."

Button impressed in his debut season in the sport and was immediately branded a champion of the future. While the 20-year-old admitted he would like to taste world title glory, he is content to wait for success to arrive.

His arrival into Formula One thrust him into the spotlight and Button said his life has been affected. The youngster hit out at photographers, who he claims are threatening to ruin his private life.

Button said: "The world championship will be nice but life is great at the moment and I couldn't wish for it to be any better.

"Off-the-track things are going great but some photographers are making things a bit uncomfortable. I've had photographers on my driveway, waiting outside my house and jumping over gates and walls to get a picture. That's the lowest of the low."