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Button 'not worried' about future at Honda

Jenson Button insists he is not worried about his future at the Honda Racing team, despite the outfit's pursuit of former world champion Fernando Alonso

Honda chiefs have made no secret of the fact that they are interested in luring Alonso away from Renault for next year, as they bid to make a big step forward on the track.

And although the arrival of Alonso will mean either Button or Rubens Barrichello losing their place at the team, Button himself is not concerned about the situation.

"I'm not worried," said Button when asked what would happen if Alonso did join Honda in 2009. "In a way it's good the team are talking to someone like Alonso who has a lot of experience, and with good teams.

"They are going to talk to other drivers, that's only natural. But I'm very happy with my position within the team. Rubens is a teammate, I think he is fantastic, has done a great job, and he gives excellent feedback, probably better than any other driver out there.

"So I'm sure whatever the team's decision is, and if they are talking to him, then it will be a very difficult decision for the team to make."

Button has been in talks for several months with Honda about extending his stay at the team, but no formal agreement has been reached about a new contract. The Briton says the team have not asked him about his opinion on Alonso joining them, but felt he would have some influence in the final decision.

"Obviously a little bit," he explained. "Before Rubens came to the team I was asked who I thought was competitive and who would be a good teammate, and I named a couple of drivers, with Rubens one of them.

"They are obviously interested in your opinion because they want the best they can get, which is only natural."

Button admitted that he would be sad if Barrichello was the one who had to make way for Alonso.

"He has done a really good job here, this year especially because he has put in some great performances. I think everyone would be gutted if that was the case, no one more than Rubens himself.

"As his teammate he has been a great one to have, and hopefully that will continue. He is still very dedicated to improving the car, and as he says and Ross as well, he is driving his best. He is doing a good job."

However, Button said he also would have no problems if he was forced to race alongside Alonso in 2009.

"I've always got on with him," he said about Alonso." We don't know each other that well, although he was a test driver at Renault when I was there.

"We got on all right, we had a little bit of fun together, and he is obviously a very competitive guy. He seems to be the sort of driver that needs to be in the right surroundings to perform well, and that wasn't at McLaren."

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