Jenson Button reckons Rosberg likely to repeat victory

Jenson Button believes Nico Rosberg will not have to wait long for his second Formula 1 victory given the competitiveness of his Mercedes team this year.

German driver Rosberg, who made his F1 debut with Williams in 2006, claimed his maiden pole and race victory over the weekend in Shanghai at the 111th time of asking.

Although now a 13-time Grand Prix winner, it took Button himself two more starts than Rosberg – 113 – before he stood on the top step of an F1 podium whereas current rivals like Lewis Hamilton (six races), Michael Schumacher (18), Sebastian Vettel (22) and Fernando Alonso (29) all tasted success relatively early on in their respective careers.

Button feels it is just about being in the right place at the right time.

“We were talking on the podium and yeah, he beat me by two races. I took 113 and he’s on 111. It’s amazing how, with some people, it can happen very quickly if you can find yourself in the right situation,” he said.

“For others it takes a little bit more time. Which way would you chose? We’d all chose to win immediately, I think. I wouldn’t chose my career path and the mistakes that I’ve made and obviously the good things that have happened in my career – it’s just different for all of us.”

With Mercedes having cast aside two seasons of middling performances to design a front-running car for 2012, Button – who had to wait a further 41 races between his first and second wins – suspects Rosberg could have chances to double his tally very soon.

“I’m sure that this won’t be Nico’s first and last win,” said Button.

“They – the team – seem very competitive this year and Nico obviously hasn’t put a foot wrong all weekend. So I think we’re going to have a battle on our hands this year which is good to see.”

However, Button’s assessment is not completely shared by Red Bull rival Mark Webber, who reckons Mercedes need to reproduce the kind of form they showed in China on a more consistent basis first before their arrival at the front is truly confirmed.

“Mercedes had only one point before this race,so we don’t want to get carried away about their pace. We finished just behind the McLarens and it was a very close fight,” the Australian told his official website.

“Sure, Mercedes did a good job and I’d like to congratulate Nico – a former team-mate of mine – and the team, but it’s too early to judge their pace.

“If they win by 20s for three races in a row, then everyone else knows they have problems; until then it’s very open.”