David Richards wants Jenson Button to shoulder the responsibility of team leadership next season and spearhead BAR's surge up the grid.

Team chief Richards believes the 23-year-old Briton now has the maturity and experience to guide the Honda-powered outfit though Button does not concur.

''There is quite a different approach about being a number two, behind very experienced drivers as Jenson has wherever he has been, like having a world champion beside him,'' said Richards.

''It's easy to sit in the shadows and not take all the responsibility that is beholden and essential with someone who is a team leader.

''I just sense Jenson is suddenly realising 'I have got to step up to the plate now, I have got to lead this team' and that will put a lot of weight on his shoulders but I am sure he will be able to change his approach.

''I believe Jenson has the potential and the will to do it so part of our role over the winter will be to coach him into that function.

''Jenson is waking up to the fact that the potential is there, the team have the belief in him and we will deliver the tools he needs next year.''

Button, who briefly led Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka before finishing fourth to help BAR snatch fifth spot in the manufacturers' championship, has been the more inexperienced teammate since breaking into the sport in 2000.

Button will be the senior partner at BAR after the team opted to replace former world champion Jacques Villeneuve with Japan's Takuma Sato who finished sixth having stepped into the cockpit when the Canadian opted to skip his final race.

But Button said: ''It is not going to change anything I do. I am more experienced in the team than Taku even though he has been testing for a year.

''I think we will be very strong as a team next season but I don't think of me being a team leader.''

Button, who has now finished fourth five times, is confident he can finally end that elusive search for a podium finish next year - and then do so regularly after the strong end of season showing.

''It will be very tough to do the big one and win the championship but there is every possibility that we can score podiums, consistently as well, not just one-offs,'' he added.

''There are a lot of interesting things happening with the team, with Honda, so it's pretty exciting. But we are not going to make a huge leap forward.''

Richards, who took over after Villeneuve's manager and team founder Craig Pollock stepped down at the end of 2001, believes the Brackley-based outfit are beginning to show their potential.

''I think the new start is now very clear for everybody and anybody who questioned our drivers line-up or the potential of the ingredients we have got, then I am sure those questions have been answered,'' added Richards.

''Somebody said to me at the finish in Japan, 'Wouldn't it be good if we are on the podium?' I like that ambition but I don't think that was the right thing yet.

''We're not there yet, we don't deserve a podium yet. We have got to work harder next year to get there.

''We have to build on this next year, that's the objective. We have got to challenge the top three teams.