By Andrew Benson Motorsport editor

Coulthard says Button is as good as anyone in F1

Jenson Button is poised to break his duck and win his first Grand Prix this year, David Coulthard has told the BBC.

Button has driven 102 Formula One races without winning but Coulthard said he expected that run to end this season, which starts in Bahrain on Sunday.

Coulthard said: "He's good enough to win. He's fired up. He looks fit. The Honda seems quick, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's challenging for wins.

Renault design boss Pat Symonds said he was also "convinced" Button would win.

Analysis: How good is Button?

"He's got the car to do it and the ability to do it," said Symonds. "I'm convinced he's going to win races this year; I'm just not quite so convinced about the championship.

"I don't mean that as any sleight against him. I think he and the team can do it, but I'm not sure they will - it's going to be very close this year."

But Symonds - who has worked with world champion Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher and Button - added that Button was not among the very best drivers in F1.

I want to win the first race for this team - if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, there will be reasons for it Jenson Button

"There are divisions within the drivers," Symonds said, "and I do think Michael, Fernando and Kimi [Raikkonen of McLaren] are in a division of their own, and in that division I wouldn't really like to rank them.

"Jenson is outside the top three, but he's probably inside the top six. But I wouldn't like to be more specific than that."

That belief is widespread among F1 insiders - but Coulthard said it was mistaken.

He is good, but he has yet to do anything that makes him stand out from other drivers From U1636318 Have your say on the Five Live messageboards

"Jenson is the real deal. It just takes the right environment, the right time - don't doubt he has all the talents to win Grands Prix and challenge for championships," Coulthard said.

Button is facing possibly the most crucial season of his career following the arrival of Rubens Barrichello from Ferrari as his team-mate at the team that used to be called BAR-Honda.

The Brazilian veteran is a known quantity, having won nine races for Ferrari without being a match for Schumacher.

Coulthard (left) says his friend Button is "the real deal"

If he beats Button this year having just arrived at a team for whom Button has driven for three years, serious questions will be asked about Button's ability.

But Button said he is determined to break his team's duck - and win Honda's first race as a constructor since 1968.

Button said: "I want to win the first race for this team. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, there will be reasons for it.

"We know the importance of working together. We are not winning races yet and we need to work together as much as possible to keep improving the car and I'm sure we will.

"When we're on the circuit it will be different, we will be rivals on the circuit. "If we are going to be challenging for wins this year it is going to start at the first race. We are very positive this year."