Jenson Button urged Honda on Friday to retain Brazilian Rubens Barrichello rather than replacing the Formula One veteran with a rookie like Bruno Senna.

Honda have yet to announce their 2009 lineup and have said they will test Senna, 25-year-old nephew of the late triple champion Ayrton, along with compatriot Lucas di Grassi in Barcelona this month.

Neither has raced before in Formula One, although Di Grassi was Renault's test and reserve driver this year.

Barrichello, 36, said last weekend his career was on hold while Honda tried out new talent but made clear he wanted to add to his record tally of 270 grand prix starts.

Britain's Button told reporters at a news conference for next month's Race of Champions at Wembley it was important to have two experienced drivers next season, given the major rule changes.

"They (the team) need a lot of feedback from us and having a new boy in the car, I don't feel that you get as much feedback. But it's not my decision," he said.

"I personally like a team mate who is experienced because he can give good feedback and next year there are a lot of changes and not a lot of testing," added the 28-year-old, who said he had yet to agree a new contract but is widely expected to stay at Honda.

"The test drivers aren't going to be doing much at all and we are very limited in mileage."

UNCOMPETITIVE CAR

Barrichello has said he is driving better than ever, despite being in an uncompetitive car, and Button saw no reason to disagree with that.

"I don't think Rubens lies," he said. "I think he tells the truth which is always good in a team mate and he has put in some very good performances."

Honda had been courting Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso but the Spaniard decided this week to stay with his team.

Button, who was replaced by the Spaniard at Renault in 2003, said he would have relished the chance to take him on in the same machinery.

"It would have been great, I think I would have worked well with Alonso," he said. "When you are team mates it might have been a different story but I get on with him very well.

"But for him I think it (Renault) is probably the best option. It was difficult because there are no seats available at Ferrari and McLaren. He wants to go to Ferrari, obviously, and that's where he thinks he needs to be to win the world championship again."

Button scored only three of Honda's 14 points this season, struggling with an ill-handling car he was delighted to see the back of. Obligingly, it burst into flames in the final race in Brazil.

"It was a fitting end to a great season," he said ironically, his season poles apart from that of compatriot and new world champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.

"Hopefully we will have a competitive car (in 2009)," he said. "But we don't know how quick we are going to be yet, it's still November."