Button is yet to win in more than 100 starts

Honda driver Button, 26, has competed in more than 100 Grands Prix but his best finish is second.

"He needs to get a win under his belt and pretty quickly," said Mansell, whose maiden win came in his 72nd race.

"As soon as he does that, it will be a springboard and he will be a proven front-runner and winner."

Mansell, the 1992 world champion, was speaking at the launch of his two sons' Formula BMW motor racing careers at the Unipart headquarters in Cowley, Oxford.

And he warned Button that he could have a formidable opponent very close to home in Honda team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

"If (Button does not win early) then he has got problems to address later in the year because Rubens is not going to pull over for him.

"Rubens is going to do a fantastic job and Rubens is a proven race winner, but I think it will spur Jenson on for better things."

In addition, Mansell tipped Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, to bounce back and win an eighth title this year.

Mansell said: "Don't write him off. I think he will be winning races again. Ferrari just took it easy last season. They are going to bounce back - believe me!"