Button expects "strong" synergy with Perez

January 17th, 2013 (F1plus Team).- The 2009 F1 champion appears happy with the arrival of the Mexican driver Sergio Perez, with whom he hopes to have a good and fruitful working relationship.

Button raced along with Lewis Hamilton for the last three seasons, but with the latter leaving to rival Mercedes, McLaren had to move swiftly to claim the services of arguably the best young talent available, Sergio Perez.

For many, it was a shocking move, and for other part of the business.

"I had three fantastic seasons racing alongside Lewis, but nothing stays the same in Formula 1 and people move on," Button explained to the official McLaren website.

"It’s always interesting to have a new team-mate – there’s that inevitable getting-to-know-you period when you’re settling in, but I’m really pleased to have Checo at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. We all saw what he was capable of doing behind the wheel of a Sauber last year and I think he’s a very good addition to this team."

Button commented that he is looking for a straightforward relationship with Perez in which transparency is the norm, stressing the importance of sharing data and ideas.

"The most important thing is that you have a good working relationship, that you can share ideas and information freely and that you’re working together with the engineers for the good of the team," said Button, who spent the winter training in Hawaii.

"That’s never been an issue at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and I think we’re going to work well together – Checo may only be 22, but he’s very sensible and he knows what’s needed to get the most from the car, so I predict it’ll be a very strong partnership."

For Button, who has raced for many teams such as Williams, Benetton, Honda, and Brawn GP (which made him champion), 2013 represent the fourth season as a McLaren driver in 2013, his second longest spell with a team.

Eight of his 15 Grand Prix victories to date came while wearing the McLaren overalls.