Button predicts Ferrari decline

Hear Des Lynam's full interview with Jenson Button on BBC Five Live on Saturday at 1200 GMT

Jenson Button says Ferrari's reign as Formula One's top team is destined to come to an end and he aims to play his part in their downfall in 2005.

The BAR driver told BBC Radio Five Live: "Ferrari have been on top for a long time and it can't stay like that.

"Williams have been on top for three or four years at a time, the same for McLaren. It doesn't last 10 years.

"My goal for this season is to stand on top of the podium and look down on Michael (Schumacher)."

Schumacher has won five of his seven world drivers' titles with Ferrari and there appears to be no sign of a let-up in the partnership's drive for success ahead of the new season.

But Button says he has had enough of finishing behind the German.

I think if you put a driver like Kimi Raikkonen or Juan Pablo Montoya into his position with a team like Ferrari then they would have done exactly the same Jenson Button on Michael Schumacher's success

He told the Des Meets... programme: "2005 for us is a season where we need to start winning races.

"Last year was an exceptional season for the (BAR) team, getting 11 podiums, but this year we really need to start fighting with Ferrari and challenging for race wins."

The Englishman also admits he would relish the chance to drive for the Italian outfit and believes if he was in a Ferrari then he would be the number one.

Asked who would be the best driver if everyone was in a Ferrari, Button said: "I'd say myself. However, we will never know because we will not always be in the same car.

"F1 is a big team effort - it is not just the driver. There is an engine, chassis, aerodynamics. There is so much to it."

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"If I had an option to be with the top team in the world, 100% (I'd take it). I think everyone would do." he said.

Button also believes McLaren duo Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen could both have matched Schumacher's achievements with Ferrari.

"I think Michael has the best equipment at the moment. But that is down to him - he has really got the team around him and got the right people in place," he added.

"He is the seven-time world champion, that's the difference.

"But I think if you put a driver like Kimi Raikkonen or Juan Pablo Montoya into his position with a team like Ferrari then they would have done exactly the same."