Button: Continuity key in 2014

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Jenson Button believes his long working relationship with McLaren could be an advantage when the new rules come into effect…

Jenson Button believes his long working relationship with McLaren could be an advantage when the new rules come into effect.

Formula One will swap the current 2.4l V8 engines for brand new 1.6-litre V6 turbo power units in the 2014 season.

Button joined the Woking-based squad in 2010 and he signed a new multi-year contract in 2011 that is expected to see him stay with McLaren until at least the end of the 2014 campaign.

The 2009 World Champion feels continuity will play a vital role with the new regulations.

“If everything goes to plan I will be still working with the same group of engineers and we’ll have worked together for four years,” he is quoted as saying by Autosport.

“So entering into a new category, which it basically is, in 2014 with the same engineers – we understand the each other in our way of working and I think it really does help when everything changes.

“I’m really excited about 2014 and I think it will make a difference if you really understand it’s not just about when you put your helmet on, it’s about what happens before you put your helmet on.”

While Button and new recruit Sergio Perez are likely to stay with McLaren for 2014, teams like Ferrari and Red Bull could make driver changes at the end of next year, which could put themat a disadvantage.

“If a team has a new driver in 2014, I think that’s very tricky for the driver and for the team to really understand the right direction,” Button said.

“Whereas if you have been working with the team for a long period of time you understand what you need from the car and what works.

“KERS is going to be massive in terms of power, and it’s not going to be on a button, it’s going to be filling in the holes of torque.

“So in terms of engineering there’s a lot of work that needs to be done and in terms of the drivers and engineers there needs to be a good understanding.”