Irvine, Button and McNish battle for top-flight survival

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Ferrari's problems encourage the pack

Formula One Team Guide 2002

For some, David Coulthard among them, the new Formula One season represents another tilt at the world championship and all the trimmings. For others, including the rest of the United Kingdom contingent, the coming months will be about survival in motor racing's major league.

Eddie Irvine, Jenson Button and the "new boy'', Allan McNish, all know they could be struggling to find employment at this level next year if they fail to raise their game above the ordinary. Pressure is on all the drivers lining up at Melbourne on Sunday, of course, but many have the security of contracts beyond this season and one or two have bullet-proof reputations. Irvine, Button and McNish fall into neither of those safe-haven categories.

Irvine, at 36, is the oldest competitor in Formula One and beginning the final season of his £6m-a-year contract with Jaguar. He accepts: "If I don't do the job, I'm out.''

Button, hailed the boy wonder when he was introduced by Williams-BMW, two years ago, continues with Renault (née Benetton) requiring a significant improvement on his form of last year to retain his place for 2003. Williams have the right to recall him but they would probably prefer to keep Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya together.

McNish enters this harsh environment at the age of 32, due recognition for his persistence as well as his talent. However, he has to justify a second season in Formula One with Toyota, who are also about to make their grand prix debut and acknowledges that the team are, as yet, in no position to strike fear into even the more modest of opposition.

The only true gauge for any driver is his team-mate and McNish has to prove himself at least the equal of Mika Salo, a Finn with seven years experience in Formula One and the comfort of a two-year contract. Both drivers maintain they have a good relationship, but McNish was taken aback recently when Salo offered the opinion that the Scotsman needed to work faster behind the scenes, in team briefings, to make an effective switch from sports cars to Formula One. McNish, unwilling to rock the boat, replied: "I have no concerns about the way I work. It certainly has nothing to do with sports cars. I feel I belong in Formula One.

"I was a little surprised to hear of Mika's comments, because he's said nothing like that to me, only positive things. But part of the job is accepting there will be different views. You should listen to other people's opinions because they might be valid – but I don't feel Mika's are in this instance.

"I've been more comfortable with the car in recent tests and I think Mika and I will be pretty equal in terms of speed, although his experience will be an advantage at certain circuits, especially Monaco.''

Coulthard, his senses honed and hardened by the machiavellianism in Formula One, has no doubt that Salo will endeavour to exploit McNish's vulnerability. "It's great that Allan is in Formula One at last,'' Coulthard said. "We were pretty close in terms of competitiveness in karts and the junior formulae then went our separate ways and didn't really keep in touch. Now he's here I just hope Toyota prove to be better than they seem to be.

"If they find it hard and don't make reasonable progress it's inevitable they will look for fall guys and Salo's the one with the two-year contract, not Allan. I believe Allan is a stronger long-term option for Toyota, but Mika is very good at self-promotion. We've seen a bit of that already. Allan is a worker. Toyota should commit to him now and give him a two-year contract.''

McNish was considered by many respected judges a more likely prospect than Coulthard, yet had to re-route his career and wait another decade to be given his opportunity in Formula One. Understandably, he is now anxious to get on with it.

He said: "We've been mulling along with this project for two years and now we, and I, need to go racing. Even thinking of winning races and competing for the championship is a long way off for us. I'm not thinking beyond the first race, let alone to next season. If I improve race by race, then 2003 will look after itself.''

Irvine and Button would doubtless endorse that philosophy. The former, however, has never been reluctant to raise his head above the parapet and his claim that he is second only to Michael Schumacher has attracted predictable derision.

Coulthard, the butt of many a one-liner from Irvine, said: "He has the potential to be a stand-up comic after Formula One. He's like Billy Connolly. He takes a bit of reality and spins it into a great yarn. It's very humorous and great entertainment but not to be taken seriously.''

Jaguar's team principal, Niki Lauda, acknowledges that the team have to provide Irvine with a competitive car before they can pick holes in his performances, but whatever the capability of the equipment, the Ulsterman can not afford to be outpaced by his team-mate, Pedro de la Rosa. Similarly, Button has to stand favourable comparison with Jarno Trulli, his new partner at Renault.

Flavio Briatore, Renault's team principal, made clear his view that Button had been distracted by the fruits of instant fame and Coulthard advises the young Englishman to put his work first. Coulthard said: "No one should have been surprised by what happened to Jenson last year. I saw it coming. There's no such thing as an overnight success. When people are built up as Jenson was you have to be prepared for disappointment.

"Jenson is good. He's quick and he's intelligent. He has all the ingredients. He now needs to put it all together.''

The indications from the Renault camp are that Button is applying himself and is anticipating the new season with confidence reinforced. "Last year was harder than I thought it would be but I'm sure I'll be able to show what I can do this season,'' he said. His future could depend on it.