Jenson Button: “I am absolutely raring to go…”

Jenson Button is full of optimism for the 2015 season after finally being confirmed at McLaren, alongside Fernando Alonso.

Ron Dennis has revealed that the deal was only signed last night, and surprisingly perhaps it lasts for two years – which means there will be no chance to slot on in either Kevin Magnussen or Stoffel Vandoorne in 2016.

“Like Fernando, I am certain that McLaren and Honda will achieve great things together,” said Button. “And I feel sure that, working together, all of us will pull incredibly hard to create a brilliantly effective winning team.

“I admired Ayrton Senna enormously, but, for me, it was the exploits of his McLaren-Honda team-mate Alain Prost that inspired me most as a boy. The way he stroked those beautifully brutal red-and-white cars to grand prix wins and world championships was to my mind poetry in motion, and I have tried to emulate his driving style ever since.

“Being a part of new-look McLaren-Honda is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, and I am very pleased to have been invited to do my bit. In fact, I am absolutely raring to go.

“I am also very glad that Kevin will remain part of the team. He is a very quick driver and a really nice guy.”

Button clearly has a lot of faith in McLaren’s new partner: “Looking forward, I know the Honda guys well, having driven Formula 1 cars powered by their engines from 2003 to 2008. I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for them, and promise to give 100% to make their partnership with McLaren a success.

“Last but far from least, I am very much looking forward to having a driver as fast and as experienced as Fernando as my team-mate. I am sure we will work extremely well together.”