Jenson Button says Fernando Alonso is a bigger challenge than Lewis Hamilton as a team-mate due to his consistency.
Alonso moved to McLaren from Ferrari at the start of this season, but Button sits higher in the standings after a difficult year littered with retirements for both drivers. With Button having been team-mates with Hamilton from 2010-2012 at McLaren, he says Alonso provides the bigger test.
“In a race? [Alonso is] a bigger challenge I would say, a more consistent challenge, he’s always there," Button said. "On some race days Lewis was untouchable and on other race days it was like ‘Where is he?’
“I’m guessing Lewis is a different driver now, more experienced, but with Fernando he is always there. He is always competitive. If he is in front of you you’re holding on and if he’s behind you he’s pushing you along, so that’s great, I like that. I think that’s important in the team and it has definitely helped us this year.”
And Button admits having Alonso as his team-mate has been one of the few positives he can take from this year.
Asked if the situation would be worse if he didn't have Alonso on the other side of the garage, Button replied: “Yeah it would.
"Having an experienced team-mate is also exciting because when you do get to go out there and qualify together and race together then at least you have a fight in our situation. Whereas if it’s a new driver or a driver who is not that competitive then it’s a very different atmosphere in the team.
"But at least when we go out there now, his side of the garage and my side of the garage, we still go out there to beat each other. We’re still here to race - even if we never say it - it’s part of racing. So it has been a challenge.”
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