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Experienced driver line-up will 'pay dividends' - Button

Jenson Button believes McLaren's experienced driver line-up will be of vital importance when it comes to the "huge challenge" of catching up with the likes of Mercedes this year.

McLaren released photos of its new Honda-powered MP4-30 on Thursday and will test for the first time in Jerez from Sunday to Wednesday. Button admitted that developing the new car into a winning package would not be easy, but is confident his experience and that of team-mate Fernando Alonso will make a big difference.

"It's been interesting to spend time in the factory during the past few weeks: you can really sense a feeling of reignited optimism and positivity around the building. I've never seen such motivation amongst the guys - we're all massively keen to get going in Jerez and to work hard on developing our new car. But we're under no illusion that it will be easy - there's a huge challenge ahead of us to try to pull back the gap to our rivals, but we're certainly up for it. We ended last season with great momentum and clear progress, and I'm determined to carry that forward into 2015.

"I'm also looking forward to working with my new team-mate, Fernando [Alonso], and I'm confident that our joint experience on track will pay dividends in our development race to get our team back to the front of the grid. I'm hugely motivated to make more history in this new McLaren-Honda era."

Now in his 16th year in Formula One, Button said he feels like he is starting a new chapter in his career.

"The off-season has really brought about a sense of renewal coming into 2015 - continuing my relationship with McLaren, getting married, and now embarking on such an exciting chapter: McLaren's new partnership with Honda. I've trained hard over the winter, and I'm absolutely itching to get going in the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30."

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