Jenson Button defends McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton's driving

Hamilton has been involved in a number of incidents this year, getting embroiled in several clashes during the Monaco GP, colliding with Button in Canada, and banging wheels with Pastor Maldonado in qualifying at Spa before tangling with Kamui Kobayashi in the race.

But Button sees no reason to suggest that Hamilton has become more erratic in 2011.

"I think Lewis is Lewis. I don't think he's changed this year from last year," said Button.

"He's a very fast, extremely fast, driver that loves overtaking. I don't really know what else to say about Lewis."

While acknowledging that he had remained calmer than his team-mate this year, Button also backed Hamilton's handling of his difficulties.

"We're very different people. Lewis is more outspoken, but is that wrong? I don't know," he said.

"It's sometimes good to get your points across. If you have an issue with something, you have to let people know. We're just different people in that respect.

"I personally feel that it's better to talk through the team than through the media. But it's just how we're built. We're built differently. We're both very passionate about racing but maybe it comes across in different ways."

Button and Hamilton are currently fourth and fifth in the world championship respectively, three points apart.