Button would relish battle with Hamilton

(GETTY IMAGES)

Jenson Button would love to battle Lewis Hamilton for the Formula One crown next season.

Hamilton's attempt to become the first British driver to win back-to-back titles was effectively over long before Button had won six of the first seven races this season to put the Frome driver within touching distance of glory.

From there on in, Button struggled under pressure from Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello and Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

McLaren's Hamilton rallied in the second half of the season, claiming two wins of his own, suggesting he could well challenge Button next time out.

Button, 29, said: "There's a lot of variables. That's the way Formula One is. Who would have thought it would be so difficult for us to win after the first seven races?

"It's the way Formula One is, it's such a competitive sport. Now you have 10 teams that are fighting for wins and it's the first time we've seen that in Formula One.

"If I'm in a competitive car and Lewis is in a competitive car next year, I think it will be a very exciting season for Formula One and especially the British public."

Button believes Britain should be proud of its achievements in the sport in recent times.

He said: "Having two world champions back to back, it hasn't happened in 40 years and I don't know how many other countries have been able to achieve that.

"We should be very proud of all the work that has been put into the sport from all around the country - the drivers, the mechanics, the engineers.

"We've produced some fantastic talent in all those different areas. We should be very happy with ourselves."

With Button yet to sign a new contract at Brawn, just where he will be when he attempts his defence is not yet clear.

But he insists he intends to stay put and will not be lured away simply by a big-money contract.

He said: "For me the most important thing in my career has always been to be in a great car and this year is the first year I've really been in that position.

"I want to continue achieving in the sport.

"I'm not one of these drivers who's going to be looking for a new team who can pay me a big amount of money, that's not what I'm about.

"I want to be with Brawn, we just haven't discussed it during the season, which is the right thing to do so we could just concentrate on getting the titles.

"You always want more and achieving the world championships is a great feeling. I'll enjoy that for many more days but after that life goes on and you want to achieve greater things.

"That will be the aim and that's why I would like to do with Brawn next year but we just haven't discussed a contract for next year yet. That's something we'll do as soon as possible."