Button confident of challenging Hamilton

The 29-year-old told F1 Racing earlier today, shortly before his McLaren deal was announced, that he believes that he has the ability to do well against Hamilton despite rating him as one of the best in the sport.

"No - I think in Formula 1 you're racing against very talented drivers and we don't get here by chance," said Button when asked by F1 Racing whether he would be afraid of going up against Hamilton.

"But racing against any new team-mate is always exciting and it's a challenge. Especially racing against a past world champion. He might have only been in F1 for three years, but he has a lot of experience in a good team and a good car, so competing against him is definitely going to be a challenge.

"Would I fancy my chances against him? Well every driver would, every driver wants to show to themselves more than anyone else how good they are."

Button believes that you have to be willing to go up against the best drivers in the world in equal machinery to prove yourself in Formula 1.

"We all think we are up there with the best of them, but when you look at it you don't know if you are better than someone else unless you are racing against them in the same car," he said.

"You can say you are the best in the world and you can feel you are the best in the world but you never know until you go head to head with them."

The full exclusive interview with Jenson Button will run in the January issue of F1 Racing, available on December 17.