Jenson Button says that he now feels like more of an integral part of the McLaren team, after being rewarded for his strong 2011 season with a multi-year contract with the Woking squad from the 2012 season onwards.
Button joined McLaren at the start of the 2010 season as the new world champion, but was well beaten by team mate Lewis Hamilton in his first season.In 2011 though, Button became the first team mate of Hamilton's to finish ahead of him in the drivers championship, ending the season in second place.
Midway through the season, Button and the team agreed a new 'multi-year' deal, believed to last until the end of the 2014 campaign.
And Button said that he was delighted to have become more of an integral part of the team in 2011, with his new contract leaving him in a "nice position" for the future.
"It's something that McLaren wanted," the British driver told reporters at the Race of Champions regarding his new contract, "I'm not blowing smoke up my arse, but a team wants continuity.
"For me, I wouldn't mind taking it year on year and every year renewing the contract. I think it's a nice position to be in, and it's exciting that way.
"But it's also good to have a long-term contract in terms of knowing that the team is going to support you and help you build as a driver and you need to work together to build a car around you."
He added: "Obviously this team has always been Lewis's team, understandably, he's a world champion, he's achieved so much for McLaren and everyone loves that, but this year I feel I had more involvement in the car than the previous car, and that's really important to me.
"We've both had a lot of involvement in the car and we've really moved it forward.
"You need continuity, the team thinking that you might leave at the end of the year - it doesn't work. This is working well for me and I'm happy to be in this position."
Button also defended Hamilton after his team mate's incident-filled 2011 season.
"I feel that I was driving better [this year], and I obviously can't speak for Lewis," he mused.
"He had some pretty tough races but he also had some great races. In Abu Dhabi he was untouchable. He's still got the speed."
Hamilton finished the season in fifth place in the drivers championship, having taken three wins throughout the season.
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