Button admits Hamilton has been faster in 2010

McLaren newcomer and reigning world champion Jenson Button has admitted that he has not been as fast as his teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2010.

The 30-year-old, who has won two grands prix compared with Hamilton’s three so far this season, said his countryman has been better at the wheel of an unbalanced car, and over a single qualifying lap.

“I need a car that is more stable than he does.  In that respect Lewis is very strong,” Button said in an interview with The Independent.

But the Briton insists he has not been destroyed this year by 25-year-old Hamilton, who was groomed by McLaren since he was a boy.

“Overall I think it’s been very close with Lewis.  But I am behind him, not in front.  So qualifying is something that I still need to work on,” Button acknowledged.

Some figures in the paddock believe that Button was effectively ousted by Brawn at the end of last year as the re-branded Mercedes GP wanted to pair the seven time world champion with the already-contracted Nico Rosberg.

But Button insists it was his “decision” to switch to McLaren, despite having had no input into the initial development of the MP4-25.

“I have made a lot of wrong decisions but I’m really happy with the one to move to McLaren,” he said.

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