Button falls off as Magnificent Montoya grabs pole again

It says much about the predictable nature of Formula One that Jenson Button's future is proving a more earnest talking point in the Magny-Cours paddock than the chances of Michael Schumacher winning the world championship this afternoon. Renault stole much of Schumacher's limelight, at least from a British point of view, by announcing yesterday that Button will be replaced next year by Fernando Alonso.

It matters little that the 20-year-old Spaniard is managed by Flavio Briatore, who also uses his sometimes intemperate methods to run the Renault team. The net result is that Button, prematurely hailed as a future world champion by an over-enthusiastic management team in 2000, is being passed round the paddock like a tray of cakes, Sauber and BAR heading the list of mid-fielders interested in the Englishman as he searches for his third team in four seasons. There is a sad irony about Button's dilemma on a weekend when Schumacher, second fastest in qualifying yesterday, is set to secure his place in history by equalling Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five world titles.

Schumacher's measured progress into F1 was in stark contrast to Button's hurried arrival, one that now appears to have led to the squandering of a superb talent before it was ready for the ruthless pressure of grand prix racing.

Button's struggle with the recalcitrant Benetton-Renault last year highlighted his inexperience, but excellent performances in a much-improved car (renamed Renault) in the first part of 2002 were obviously insufficient to retain Briatore's interest. Alonso was one of the youngest winners in Formula 3000 (a category bypassed by Button) when he produced a commanding performance at the difficult Spa-Francorchamps circuit, a prelude to a year with Minardi in F1 and this season as test driver for Renault.

Button put the bad news behind him with a succession of clean, quick laps to qualify seventh, his team-mate Jarno Trulli never looking likely to get on terms. Button leads the Ôbest of the rest' behind the usual suspects from Williams, Ferrari and McLaren on the front three rows of the grid, pole position having gone to Juan Pablo Montoya for the fifth race in succession. Whether the Colombian can finally convert his starting advantage into a win is becoming a question that can only be answered by improved performance from his Williams-BMW in race trim. ÔThis was really a good qualifying, probably my best so far,' said Montoya. ÔWe didn't think we would get pole here as we thought at first that Ferrari was too quick. I had a very good last flying lap, but made a mistake in the last corner and lost a lot of time there. I was very surprised when I saw my lap time.'

Montoya was not alone in making errors, Schumacher running wide on two separate laps. Nonetheless, the world champion appeared relaxed about being beaten by Montoya, as well he might since another win for the Ferrari driver this afternoon will secure the title with five races to go Ð provided his team-mate, Rubens Barrichello, and Montoya fail to finish on the podium. ÔWe would have preferred to be on pole,' said Ross Brawn, technical director at Ferrari. 'But that would have spoilt the recent tradition, which has seen us win the last three races without starting from the front. We can expect a close race, much closer than the last couple. If we can stay with Montoya, there is a good chance and we can try and win through pit stops.'

At least the Arrows drivers will not trouble the leaders as they lap the back-markers. The British team deliberately failed to qualify, a tactic in the in-house fight for control that actually reflected badly on the sport as Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi created the ridiculous spectacle of going as slowly as possible in order to be outside 107 per cent of Montoya's pole position time. The Arrows management's motives are not entirely clear but their track behaviour is likely to be subject to sanction by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

Giancarlo Fisichella will also miss today's race, in his case on doctor's orders after crashing heavily yesterday morning. The nose of the Jordan-Honda, loosened by a trip across a kerb, finally came off when Fisichella ran wide a few corners later, the wing becoming wedged beneath the front wheels to leave the Italian without steering and front brakes as he negotiated a 130mph corner. Fisichella will rest today in order to be fit enough to race in the twelfth round of the championship in Germany next weekend.

Meanwhile, today's French Grand Prix is set to provide a continuation of the fight that raged between Montoya and Schumacher during the first 12 laps at Silverstone. The intense heat at Magny-Cours indicates that this race will not be interrupted by rain and, in addition, the higher temperatures seem to be playing into the hands of Michelin, suppliers to Williams and McLaren.

Whether the French tyres will outlast the Bridgestones used by Ferrari during 72 laps remains to be seen but the step forward in performance by Michelin, during qualifying at least, contributed to an overdue revival by Jaguar as Eddie Irvine qualified ninth, his best grid position of the season.

'Our three-day test in Monza was very helpful in understanding the new aerodynamic package,' said Irvine. ÔBut we must credit Michelin too for the tyre advantage they've brought here. This will inevitably flatter us a little, but there is no doubt that we have a better car. I'd say we're in with an outside chance of a point in this race.'