Button joins Hamilton by sealing move to McLaren.

Byline: JAMIE STRICKLAND

JENSON BUTTON is relishing the prospect of embarking on a fresh challenge after being signed by McLaren to partner fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton in a stellar all-British line-up.

McLaren yesterday confirmed the arrival of Button on a "multiyear deal", ending weeks of speculation over the future of the 29-year-old, who wrapped up his maiden world title in Brazil last month.

Button, who began his career at Williams in 2000 and has gone on to make 170 grand prix starts, will line up alongside Hamilton after parting company with Brawn GP, who were the subject of a takeover by Mercedes-Benz earlier this week.

Button's move to McLaren ends his seven-year association with the Brackley-based Brawn GP outfit, whom he joined in 2003 when the team was known as BAR before establishing himself as the team's number one driver prior to Honda's takeover in 2006.

Honda's subsequent withdrawal from F1 at the end of 2008 left Button's prospects looking bleak, before the rebirth of the team under the Brawn banner gave way to one of the most remarkable stories in the sport's history as Button romped to six race wins and the world title while the team claimed the constructors' crown.

The extreme highs and lows of the last 12 months forged a strong bond between driver and team, but while Button conceded it was a "difficult decision" to leave, he felt the lure of a new challenge was too strong to resist.

"It's always a difficult decision to leave a team when you've been there for so long," said Button.

"But life is all about challenges and, most important of all, it's about challenging yourself.

"So, although I won the World Championship with Brawn GP last year, and I'll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges."

Those challenges in the main are set to come from the other side of the McLaren garage, where a fired-up Hamilton will be bidding to banish the memories of a tough 2009 season by landing his second world title.

Button is under no illusions about the task ahead, but nevertheless expects to form a formidable partnership with Hamilton.

"It's fantastic that we'll be forming an all-British line-up," he said.

"I know that we both fly the flag with pride and I sincerely hope we can make the whole of the United Kingdom, as well as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes fans across the world, proud.

"Nothing means more to me than to be able to represent my country.

"This is a team that always goes racing to win and I'm looking forward to being part of that."

The deal marks the first time in Formula One history that a team has started the new season with a line-up featuring the two most recent world champions, and is the first pairing of two British world champions since Graham Hill partnered Jim Clark at Lotus in 1968.

Button has reportedly agreed a three-year deal worth pounds 6million a season, a figure which, if accurate, is far below what has been commanded by other world champions in recent seasons.

And McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh underlined the belief that Button's move from Brawn was not about the money.

"I want to make clear that Jenson's decision to join us was in no way motivated by money," said Whitmarsh.

"We'll be paying him no more than he could be getting elsewhere and that fact is a reflection of not only Jenson's belief in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but also his desire and ambition to build on the phenomenal results he achieved during the 2009 season."

Button's new team-mate welcomed the arrival of his fellow Englishman while reserving special praise for the outgoing Heikki Kovalainen, his team-mate of the last two seasons who must now find a drive elsewhere.

Hamilton said: "It's fantastic news that Jenson has decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

"I'm looking forward to working with him and our engineers to make sure we kick off the 2010 season with a car that's competitive enough to win the World Championship, but I want to send my best wishes for the future to my 2008-09 teammate and now good friend Heikki Kovalainen, who is one of the nicest human beings I've ever met."

He added: "I already know Jenson and we get on very well together. We both really want our team to succeed.

"Although we'll be pushing each other hard, I'm sure we'll very quickly establish a great working relationship.

"He's an exceptional driver, very controlled and very smooth, and he has a real depth of knowledge and experience. I think we'll complement each other very well."

CAPTION(S):

Formula One world champion Jenson Button (right), with his predecessor and fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton