A doubt over Button?

It is perhaps fitting that Jenson Button is not feeling at all well for his hundredth grand prix. Speculation in the Shanghai paddock on Friday suggested that Anthony Davidson, earlier 'on standby' for Takuma Sato, has been told to be ready for a last minute Chinese dash after 25-year-old JB recorded a high temperature.

Jenson, 25, has had to fend off the press' enquiries so far this weekend about what it feels like to be notching up race number 100 without an accompanying grand prix victory.

''It just means I have experienced a lot, more than most,'' the visibly irked English driver told the ranks.

To his rivals, though, naked statistics tell little of the story about a driver's talent. Ralf Schumacher, JB's first ever F1 teammate, reckons that with the right car, Button 'can win a championship'.

''Michael (Schumacher) was called the best ever driver but he's not able to win a race with an average car,'' he added.

Button's next teammate will be Rubens Barrichello, who was similarly asked to rate the BAR star in the Chinese paddock.

''It's quite difficult,'' said the Brazilian, ''because it depends on a lot of things, but I don't think he is lacking anything against Raikkonen and Alonso. I think he is very, very talented.''