Button chances are over - Mansell

Jenson Button's hopes of becoming a serious contender in Formula One are over at the age of 27, according to former world champion Nigel Mansell.

Button continues at Honda next year but he has already failed, Mansell says, because he did not get the most out of a competitive car when he had one.

"Jenson should have won more races, he has under-performed and that is down to him," said Mansell, 54.

"He had the opportunity and he didn't take it; there won't be any more."
Button reached a career-high with Honda last season, clinching a first Grand Prix victory in Hungary in his 113th race.

But the Briton was not able to push on, finishing sixth in the drivers' standings and going backwards this season with a car that has not been able to match the pace of its rivals.
And he failed to win a race in 2004, the most consistently competitive season so far for his team, which was then called BAR-Honda.

Button has only claimed a single point for the team and is languishing down in 16th place.

However, Mansell says Button, hailed as one of the most talented active drivers behind Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, must accept some of the blame for his failure to live up to his potential.

"Jenson is a great talent," said Mansell, who won the F1 crown with Williams in 1992.

"But he was far better years ago than he is now because he was hungry then.

"He's got a great reputation for partying and that's taken the edge off it. He's a typical example of too much, too soon.

"He'll have a great lifestyle but he's had his opportunities and it hasn't happened for him."