Taking time out from other, more weighty issues, such as whether Formula One actually has a future, Max Mosley has tipped Jenson Button for success in 2005.

Speaking at the first of two press get-togethers, the FIA president said that punters should seriously consider putting their money on the BAR star this season.

"Any bookmaker is bound to start with Schumacher as title favourite because of his past form," he said. "But if I was having a bet I would back Jenson. He has a very strong possibility of upstaging Schumacher along with Fernando Alonso at Renault."

Although pre-season testing is a notoriously difficult yardstick, despite some promising performances before the Christmas break, the team has suffered a number of high profile failures and accidents since the 007 was introduced.

It's already well documented that Button has a performance clause in his contract, which, should the team not perform, would free him to drive for WilliamsF1 in 2006.