Formula One's Heir Apparent?

The Formula One season is only four races old, but already the championship picture is in sharp focus. Michael Schumacher, who won his sixth F/1 title last year, has taken the checkered flag in all four races. At this point only two drivers appear capable of catching him: his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello (who trails Schumacher by 16 points in the driver standings) and England's Jenson Burton (17 points behind Schumacher).

The biggest surprise of 2004 has been the 24-year-old Button (right), who drives for the British team B.A.R. Two weeks ago in Imola, Italy, he became the first Englishman since Damon Hill in 1996 to win a pole position. Though Button has never made it to Victory Lane in 67 F/1 starts, he's already accumulated three top three finishes this season. His success heading into this Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona has fueled speculation that when the 35-year-old Schumacher retires—possibly at the end of this season—Button will take his seat at Ferrari.

"One day Michael is going to stop," says Ferrari technical director Ross Brown. "Then we will look around for a replacement and see who is the best at that stage. Jenson will be on that list."