- McLaren
Button keen to uncover Alonso's secrets
Jenson Button is looking forward to finding out Fernando Alonso's strengths and weaknesses as the two former world champions go head to head at McLaren this year.
Alonso joined McLaren from Ferrari over the winter and, alongside Button, makes up half of the most experienced driver line-up on the F1 grid. The Spaniard has a history of crushing his team-mates and has never been outscored on points alone by his opposite number, yet Button is not daunted by the year ahead.
"I think every driver wants a competitive team-mate," he said. "You are in the same equipment and it's always good seeing what someone else can do with that car. We all drive differently and have positives to the way we are in terms of drivers and there are always weaknesses that we have.
"It's always interesting to find peoples strengths and weaknesses and also to just work with someone with such experience - Fernando is a double world champion and he's been around almost as long as I have, racing for many different teams. You pick up so many things along the way and that is such useful information when you have a new power unit in the car and a new working relationship.
"It's a massive benefit for this team, having us two here, and I've always said that I want the best guy to be alongside me. I've always said I'd really like Fernando as a team-mate and here we are now, it's a good partnership. We obviously haven't spent too much time working together this year, but I feel that we will work very well together."
At the end of last year Button faced an uncertain future as McLaren dithered over its driver line-up, but the 2009 champion has put that period behind him and is excited about driving a Honda engine again.
"I feel like a kid again getting in the car, but I think that's for different reasons and not because I thought I might not be racing in Formula One. I think that's more because of what I have underneath and how good a job the guys have done with the car, and working with Honda again. I think that's why I feel like a kid in the candy shop, not because I didn't think I'd be here."
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