JANUARY 14, 2001

"My loyalties will not be divided in 2001" - Button

JENSON BUTTON said on Sunday that he will have no divided loyalties in his Benetton this season -- and vowed to beat BMW-Williams duo Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya in 2001.

JENSON BUTTON said on Sunday that he will have no divided loyalties in his Benetton this season -- and vowed to beat BMW-Williams duo Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya in 2001.

Button, who will return to Williams in 2003 after his loan spell with Benetton ends, said that he would push 100 per cent this season in an effort to bring success to the Renault-owned team.

"I've got to concentrate on getting the team up to a level where they can fight for the championship, which I hope they can do in 2002 before I leave," Button said.

"But it's difficult to say what will happen and I've just got to concentrate on now and not look too far in the future."

Button insisted that the prospect of seeing a Williams ahead of him on the track would make him more focused.

"It will make me more motivated to pass, especially if it's Ralf," he said. "It's going to be great to be able to race against the team I drove for last year.

"I think we're going to be on a similar level from mid-season to the end of the year and I'm really going to enjoy that, especially with Montoya there as well."

Button, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Friday, was upbeat about Benetton's chances after completing several testing sessions during the past few weeks.

"We've had a few days testing with last year's car and this year's engine and we've been progressing and taking big steps every time," Button said.

"It all seems pretty good and Michelin has impressed me in testing. I'm really pleased with the package that I've got."