Button wants long-term future at Honda

"I think that Honda has to be the team to be with in the future, it has everything now," Button told reporters during the launch of the new Honda.

"It is the first time that I can truly say that in every area we are strong and we know which direction we are going.

"We have great technical direction with Ross (Brawn) and that is going to make a big difference to this team. I am very happy where I am."

Honda have carried out major changes following last year's dismal season, and Button says his motivation is very high despite the difficulties of 2007.

He added: "I don't think any driver in Formula One would not be motivated with the team that we have. With the people that we have employed, the people that were here before and the way this team is going. I don't think anybody wouldn't be motivated.

"Personally I am very motivated. I wouldn't have spent my whole winter training my arse off in Lanzarote where it wasn't necessary, maybe. I feel I am the fittest driver on the grid and I am as focussed as any other out there.

"I have been giving as much input over the winter, listening to what they have to say and also seeing how the car is growing. I am definitely hungry and I definitely want a competitive car. We have to work it though, it's not going to happen on its own."

Button said that despite last year's struggles, leaving Honda was never an option and he insisted the team will be stronger following their 2007 problems.

"We never had an option to not be here this season," he said. "But I wasn't really thinking about that because I know that Honda want the same thing as me. For sure last year was very tough, and I think Honda realised that something needed to change, I think all of us realised that something needed to change.

"If we had had a year that was reasonably good where we had finished third or fourth, we would have kept on the same path and maybe achieved the same this year. We never really would have found a way out, but having such a dreadful year we have realised that something seriously needs to change. Not just the personnel but the direction with the car.

"It's all good at the moment but as I said this isn't the final product. There is a lot or work that we need to do to make it competitive."