Former Formula One world champion Jenson Button insists he is ready to become the main man at McLaren in 2013.
The Englishman will become McLaren’s top driver following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Mercedes.
Button, who finished the 2012 season in fifth, will be joined at McLaren but Mexican Sergio Perez in 2013 after his switch from Sauber.
On becoming team leader, the 2009 champion said: “It’s not the first time I’ve done that. When I got to BAR and Jacques [Villeneuve] left it was exactly the same situation.
“I was there to lead the team and it’s something I really look forward to and it’s something where the best comes out of me in that situation. I can really build that team around me and direct the team in a direction I like with the car.”
Despite talk of animosity between Button and Hamilton in 2012, the former insisted they’d gained plenty from their three seasons together at McLaren.
“Lewis is extremely fast and he definitely has that speed that not a lot of people have - outright pace over one-lap - but as we know, Formula 1 is not about a single lap,” Button said.
“It’s a race and that’s where you score points. Of course, he’s been a tough team-mate in terms of speed, but also a good team-mate to work with and really develop the car.
“I think he’s learnt a lot this year in terms of understanding that it’s not just about one lap in terms of looking after the tyres. So I think the partnership has been good in terms of us learning off each other.
“Even if he says he hasn’t, we’ve both definitely learnt from each other and it’s helped us to improve as drivers.”