Button Secures Williams Seat.

Twenty-year old Jenson Button is Britain's latest grand prix star, following the confirmation of his signing by the Williams team.


Button, who has raced cars for just two seasons, was named as team-mate to Ralf Schumacher as Williams launched its new car in Barcelona this morning. The youngster subsequently becomes the youngest Briton to race at motorsport's highest level, and the fifth youngest F1 driver in modern history.


Despite several prominent motorsport figures speaking out against his place in a shootout for the Williams seat, Button insists that he is ready for the challenge, although confirmation of his appointment this morning still took his breath away.


"I think I'm still on cloud nine," he smiled, "The last 45 minutes have been amazing, so difficult to explain because I've never experienced that before. It's an amazing feeling being part of the BMW Williams F1 package.


"I went out, saw my father and said, "Dad, I'm a Formula One driver". He started crying, and I got upset, but it shows what I want in life."


"Bruno Junqueira has been the most difficult competitor I have had, and yesterday was the first time I have felt nervous for a long time. I knew it was my last chance to show what I could do. But I'm sure I'm ready for Formula One. It's going to be an interesting season for me."


Team bosses Frank Williams and Patrick Head admitted that choosing between Button and Junqueira had not been easy, and the decision had not been made as personnel assembled for this morning's official launch.


"It was a close run thing," confessed Williams, "A lot of time was spent in making a decision but, by the smallest of margins, we decided to go for Jenson."


The Somerset youngster will now partner the younger of the Schumacher brothers in the Williams team this year, bypassing the two drivers - Marc Hynes and Luciano Burti - who finished ahead of him in the British F3 series last season in the race to get to F1.


"Ralf used to be the young pup of the team," laughed technical director Head, "but now he has to be the elder statesman. I am optimistic that Jenson will do a good job."