Japanese Grand Prix: Honda Gives Button the Zip to Win

Jenson Button may have his best chance of a maiden formula one victory on Sunday when Honda hopes to have a 960bhp version of its super-fast V10 engine powering his BAR 006 in the Japanese grand prix.

Button finished fourth in last year's race at Suzuka and, after his recent second place in Shanghai, goes to Japan relishing the challenge of what many within the sport regard as the best track on the world championship schedule.

"Suzuka is a very special circuit in itself and I think our car and package will work very well there," said the Englishman. "The change of direction with our car is very good, which is important for the particular characteristics of this circuit.

"We know we can be fast there having finished fourth and sixth last year, so I am expecting a lot from the race. It's also going to be very special, being Honda's home grand prix at Honda's own circuit. We have had some fantastic results this season and hopefully they will continue in Suzuka."

It would be ironic if Button were to win this race as he waits for the verdict of the formula one contracts recognition board as to whether his new contract with Williams is valid for 2005. The board is expected to make public its adjudication on October 16, the Saturday after the Japanese race.

Suzuka can expect a capacity crowd because Button's fiery team-mate Takuma Sato will also be out to improve on the form that earned him points-scoring finishes in the last two Japanese GPs.

Further down the grid, Jarno Trulli is strongly tipped to make his F1 debut in the Toyota TF104B, an opportunity for the Italian to prove that Renault have made a big mistake replacing him with Jacques Villeneuve for the last three races of the season.

Logically one would expect Toyota to stand down Ricardo Zonta to make space for Trulli in their line-up but, with the final race of the season to be held at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit a fortnight later, the Brazilian may well keep his seat until the end of the year and it may be Olivier Panis who is forced to sit out the last two races of 2004.