Hamilton is keeping Button on his toes (From The Northern Echo)

Hamilton is keeping Button on his toes

11:08am Thursday 21st July 2011 in Formula One

JENSON BUTTON has revealed having Lewis Hamilton as team-mate is not “a stress-free situation”.

Button, though, has enjoyed being kept on his toes by his fellow Briton over the past 18 months since joining McLaren.

Hamilton has had the upper-hand, out-qualifying Button by a ratio of 19-9 in their 28 grands prix together.

In a race situation, the count is 18-10 in Hamilton’s favour, with the 26-year-old enjoying four victories compared to Button’s three, and being on the podium 12 times in contrast to the latter’s ten.

This season, however, nothing can separate them as they are tied on 109 points.

This weekend the British duo face a fight to hang onto championship leader Sebastian Vettel’s coat-tails at the German Grand Prix where the 24-year-old will be looking to win on home soil.

“I’d say in qualifying Lewis has been stronger since I’ve been in the team, not always, but through the season he has been stronger,” Button said.

“I think we’ve had some good races, even if I’ve started behind him. We both have a good feeling within the team, we give a lot of feedback, we take the car in the right direction, so it’s good having a team-mate like Lewis because it does push you.

“If you have a slightly bad day at the office, he’ll destroy you, and if you have a slightly good day and he has a slightly bad day then you can beat him.

“So it’s a good position to be in, and it keeps you on your toes, definitely.

“It’s not a stress-free situation, though, because we are both fighting and we are both competitive, but that’s not a bad thing.”