Jenson Button insists he will never accept team orders but will know himself when the time is right to help McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s title challenge.
Standing 42 points adrift of Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso, nothing but a win will do in today’s Brazilian Grand Prix if Button is to remain in the hunt heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
Button is adamant team boss Martin Whitmarsh has enough confidence in him to trust his judgement and serve the best interests of the team without ordering him to do so.
Button told Press Association Sport: “I will not be ordered, I will never be ordered to do anything.
“I think Martin and myself, in the short period we’ve been together over the last year, we’ve learnt a lot about each other and Martin knows he doesn’t have to talk to me.
“He knows I’m intelligent enough to make my own decision, and the right decision.
“Of course, my main focus is to go out and try to win the race, and if that’s not possible, we’ll see what happens. But second to that the team is important to me, so yeah, I will do what I feel is correct.
“I think we have a very good understanding within this team,” added Button.
“Naturally I want to win the championship. I don’t want anyone else to do so.
“But if I suddenly find myself in a position where I can’t win it, you are a team, so you do what you think is right.
“It’s very like NASCAR in a way. You have two or three team-mates, and you can’t win a race unless your team-mate pushes you around the circuit.
“It needs to be down to you as an individual to make that decision, definitely.”
It is the harmonious relationship that exists between Hamilton and Button that ensures if push comes to shove, the latter will play his part.
That is a source of great comfort to Hamilton, who finds himself 21 points behind Alonso and in need of all the help he can get if he is to overhaul his former team-mate.
“It’s a different scenario for all three teams,” said Hamilton.
“The Red Bulls are really battling it out, neck and neck.
“Then you have Ferrari where (Felipe) Massa has supposedly said he is going to do everything to help Fernando, which is a completely different situation.
“Then you’ve the position here where we’re both trying to win.
“But we have a great relationship, one generally where you would assist in a way maybe.
“Obviously it’s all very hypothetical, but I feel it’s a positive thing, which is what we all want. It’s nice to know we are a team.”