Jenson Button says past helps him deal with McLaren F1 struggles

All at McLaren-Honda suffered through a miserable 2015 following the Japanese manufacturer's return to F1 as a power-unit supplier.

A litany of reliability issues, combined with a lack of power, resulted in McLaren finishing a wretched ninth in the constructors' championship, one of the lowest positions in the team's history.

The 2009 world champion, however, is no stranger to strife as his 2001 season with Benetton (pictured below) testifies when he scored just two points, along with the '07-'08 campaigns with Honda when he managed six and three points respectively.

Button said: "People come into Formula 1 at different points in their career and with teams that are competitive or uncompetitive. For me it was less competitive.

"When you first win a race, for me it means a lot more because you've worked so hard to get there, and you've gone through the pain and the struggle.

"It's very special when you win. I've never seen so many grown men cry as when I first won in 2006 [in Hungary with Honda] - the whole team.

"So going through struggles, it's tough. None of us like it, but it's necessary sometimes to come out the other side, learn from it, about who you really are as a driver, but also as a human being.

"It's made a huge difference in my career. It's made me a much stronger person."

Button recognises the years with Honda from 2003-08, initially as an engine supplier to BAR before becoming a works team in their own right, were also difficult for the Japanese company.

But again the 35-year-old feels Honda will also emerge stronger from a trying year.

"It makes us all realise it's not an easy sport to be involved with," added Button.

"It's so competitive. You're on the radar the whole time. You can't get away from the sport.

"If you have an issue everyone knows about it and wants to talk about it, and wants to put you down. It's really tough.

"For a culture like the Japanese culture, it's very difficult for them. Sometimes it can be a big dishonour.

"It was a very difficult season, but they're so positive, working flat out, and they will make big changes next year, as we will as a team, with the car mechanically and aerodynamically.

"We need to improve everywhere, and that's exactly what we'll do."