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Button predicts 'very strong partnership' with Perez

Jenson Button on Sergio Perez: "He's very sensible and he knows what's needed to get the most from the car" © McLaren

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• Sergio Perez

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Jenson Button believes his partnership with Sergio Perez will be "very strong" at McLaren this season.

With Lewis Hamilton leaving the team to join Mercedes, Button will get his first new team-mate since he moved to McLaren in 2010. Perez impressed with Sauber for much of last season as he scored three podiums, but Button said that while Perez has shown he has the ability to deliver results he's most confident about their ability to work well together for the good of the team.

"I had three fantastic seasons racing alongside Lewis, but nothing stays the same in Formula One and people move on," Button told the official McLaren website. "It's always interesting to have a new team-mate - there's that inevitable getting-to-know-you period when you're settling in, but I'm really pleased to have Checo at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. We all saw what he was capable of doing behind the wheel of a Sauber last year and I think he's a very good addition to this team.

"The most important thing is that you have a good working relationship, that you can share ideas and information freely and that you're working together with the engineers for the good of the team. That's never been an issue at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and I think we're going to work well together - Checo may only be 22, but he's very sensible and he knows what's needed to get the most from the car, so I predict it'll be a very strong partnership."

Button also said that he was hugely motivated to get in to the MP4-28 for the start of pre-season testing.

"Testing is where you see a racing driver at the opposite end of the spectrum to when we're in a grand prix - it's never really about raw speed; it's about process, repetition, repeatability, about following your instincts but backing it up with good engineering. It's an absolutely fascinating process, and you can see the fruits of your labour unfolding before your eyes, day after day. It's a part of the job that I really enjoy. Can't wait!"

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