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November 27th, 2009

Button looks forward to ‘a good fight’

Formula One world champion Jenson Button said he is ready for “a good fight” with new team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Button signed for the McLaren team earlier this week, ending a long relationship with Brawn GP, with whom he won his first driver’s title this year.

“Moving to McLaren is the buzz I need, fighting against Lewis,” he said. “Winning the world championship was my aim and I’ve achieved that, I want to go out there and have fun and fight against Lewis.”

He added: “I hope that when we go out head to head I come out on top but I don’t know that, nobody knows that, that’s why it’s a proper challenge.”

He said 2008 champion Hamilton would have an advantage because of his long-term involvement with the team but added: “I’m going to work very hard over this winter so I feel comfortable when we come to the first race.”

Button, 29, met fans and signed copies of his new book, race diary My Championship Year, at Waterstone’s in Bristol.

He said it was fitting the foreword to the book was written by Brawn team boss Ross Brawn, despite the recent announcement, adding: “We’ve been through a lot together, you can’t forget what we’ve achieved.

“We spent a lot of time together, I’ve been with them for seven years.

“I respect Ross a lot and I think he understands my decision. For me, 2010 is all about challenges, I came into Forumla one to win the world championship and that’s what I did in my 10th season.

“After I did achieve that I thought ’so now I’ve achieved this what’s in store for me? What’s the best option?’ I personally think fighting with Lewis at McLaren is a challenge and a half but I’m willing to take it.”