• McLaren News

McLaren move justified - Button

Jenson Button is three points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News:
• Button sees strong chance of hat-trick in Valencia
  
• News:
• Button wishing for charitable race
  
• News:
• Hamilton confident of maintaining advantage
  

• Drivers:
• Jenson Button
• |
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

Jenson Button believes his position in this year's championship standings is evidence that his decision to join McLaren was completely justified.

The 30-year-old clinched last year's title with the Brawn GP team - now Mercedes GP - but decided to move on after McLaren showed an interest in partnering him with 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Button, currently three points off the championship lead held by his team-mate, came in for criticism for his decision but the world champion feels his strong showing this season is proof that he made the right move.

"I think it really justifies my decision to join McLaren at the start of the year," Button said on his official website. "I know there were some people who were openly questioning that decision, and my motivation for moving, but I think I've shown that it was the right move.

"One of the motivating factors was being able to watch - from the outside - how much performance the team was able to bring to last year's car, transforming it from a backmarker into a race winner.

"That really struck me, because it not only showed how much development power is available to them, but also how hungry they were to chase performance, particularly when it would have been easier to knock it on the head quite early on and focus on 2010. That racer's approach really excited me."

The Briton has thrived in his current surroundings and admits he is enjoying the fresh challenge of contending for the championship with McLaren.

"I always said that I was looking for a new challenge, and that's exactly what I've got: it's exciting to be working and racing alongside Lewis, and it's a real buzz to be the world champion and to be fighting for the championship again," he said. "Being in the thick of it is exactly what being a racing driver is all about. This is an incredible season - and we should all really enjoy it.

"And that really struck me after the race on Sunday- in the press conference, you had three world champions on the podium - when was the last time that happened? And it makes you realise what an incredible field we have this year."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.