Button backs Barrichello

Jenson Button feels Rubens Barrichello’s experience will be more beneficial to Honda next season than the youth of either Bruno Senna or Lucas Di Grassi.

Honda have yet to confirm their 2009 driver line-up and will run the rule over upcoming Brazilians Senna and Di Grassi at a test in Barcelona later this month.

It is widely understood Button is safe, with veteran Barrichello the man to be replaced by team principal Ross Brawn if Honda opt for a shake up.

However, with a raft of changes to the car due next season, Button believes a team-mate with race craft rather than a rookie will stand the Japanese manufacturer in good stead.

“I feel it’s necessary to have two experienced drivers in the team next year, especially with the new regulations,” Button said.

“There are so many changes aerodynamically with the car, and then there’s KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), and the slick tyres, so they will need a lot of feedback from us.

“With a new boy in the car, I don’t feel you would get as much feedback, but it is not my decision.”

Asked whether he felt there was much point in testing Senna and Di Grassi, Button added: “It is interesting for the team, and it gives them (the drivers) a chance.

“I think it is important to test inexperienced drivers to see how quick they are because nobody really knows.

“Bruno almost won the GP2 championship last season and he might be astonishingly quick in an F1 car. We don’t know.

“I personally like a team-mate that is experienced, because he can give good feedback.

“Next year there are a lot of changes and not a lot of testing. We are very limited on mileage. Rubens has driven better this year than at any point since he has been with our team.

“It has been his best season. He says he is driving better now than he ever has done, and I don’t think Rubens lies.”