28/09/2006
NEWS STORY
Honda's Jenson Button has tipped Michael Schumacher to win his eighth World championship title this year, predicting that the German will win all three remaining races.
"I think the Ferrari is very strong," said the Englishman, according to Reuters. "These three circuits are the sort that might suit them well, and if Bridgestone have got their act together they will be very quick."
Though he has enjoyed wins at Suzuka (6) and Interlagos (4), Shanghai has, thus far, proved to be a bit of a jinx track, the German having a nightmare race in 2004 and spinning off, after just 22 laps, in 2005.
Nonetheless, Button is convinced that the Ferrari driver can win all three races.
"There is a very good chance that he could win three in a row," said the Honda driver. "This isn't his favourite circuit, looking at past races, but he's quick in Suzuka and Brazil and I think the car will work well at those two and also here."
Asked if he would bet on the German winning the title, Button said: "I probably would. I think a lot of people would as well, looking at the pace of the Ferrari at the moment.
"People used to say Kimi was not very quick in Japan and he won last year," he added. "I really don't think it's going to be a problem for Michael here. He might have had two bad years, for whatever reason, but he should be able to be quick here and he's got the championship at stake."
The last time Schumacher won at Suzuka was in 2004, while it was 2002 when the German last won at Interlagos. His last streak of three consecutive wins was earlier this year, when he won the United States, French and German events, bringing Fernando Alonso's streak of four consecutive wins to an end.