Button hails hero Schumacher

Jenson Button hailed his boyhood hero Michael Schumacher today as a great and truly worthy triple world champion after the 31-year-old German delivered Ferrari's first Formula One world title in 21 years.

The 20-year-old Benetton-bound driver from Bicester finished a brilliant fifth in the Japanese Grand Prix in his first race on the demanding and unique figure-of-eight track.

He said: "I've always been a huge admirer of Michael Schumacher. He was one of my biggest heroes and one of the main reasons I loved Formula One. It has been incredible for me to race alongside him this year and I think it is fantastic that he is the world champion.

"He has worked so hard for many years and he has been so close. He has deserved this. He has worked to get it. And I all I want to do now is to finish my season with Williams-BMW on a high note in Malaysia and then try to follow in his footsteps."

While Button looked ahead to a change of teams, Schumacher's wily German manager Willie Weber said it was almost certain that the newlycrowned champion would be staying with Ferrari for the rest of his career.

Weber said: "Michael has a contract until the end of 2002 and I am sure he will stay beyond that if the conditions are right. He is very happy with the team and it is a wonderful thing for them to achieve all they have together.

"But both team chief Jean Todt and Ross Brawn have contracts which end at the end of 2001 so I suppose we will have to wait and see what happens to them first."

Brawn, technical guru in the Ferrari pits, predicted that, by ending their years of frustration since Jody Scheckter's triumph in 1979, Schumacher would open the floodgates to success.

"I think the weight will be lifted off everyone's shoulders in the team and we can on from strength to strength," he said. "I believe we have not seen the best of Michael yet. I am sure he can go up another notch. He is a great driver, he is the best one out there."

Meanwhile, David Coulthard, who finished third behind Schumacher and team-mate Mika Hakkinen, was disappointed at the way the McLaren team's season had fizzled out.

"We have to look ahead and that is all there is to it," he said.

Before leaving the Suzuka track, McLaren chief Ron Dennis admitted: "It's difficult to feel positive at this time but the entire company has done a great job and we can all take some satisfaction from the seven victories and seven pole positions we have achieved this year."