Button eyes another Melbourne triumph

Jenson Button is hopeful of continuing his long-standing love affair with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

Of his 15 victories, it is a remarkable statistic that 20 per cent of those have been at Melbourne's Albert Park, scene of the curtain-raiser to this year's latest Formula One campaign.

Button said: "It is such a special race for all of us. At the end of a year, every year, everyone's a bit tired in Brazil. You see people walking around the paddock, and unless you've won the grand prix or got a chance of winning it, there aren't many smiling. It's like 'Ah, it's been such a long season', but at the first race it's so, so different because it's all new, it's all fresh, it's all exciting."

It is unusual to note that before 2009, and the first of Button's three wins in the last four years, the 33-year-old had finished 10th or worse on eight occasions in nine attempts.

It was not until the straight-out-of-the-box all-conquering Brawn GP car of four years ago that Button's head was turned Down Under.

A year later, having joined McLaren, Button conjured his debut win for the team, and although only sixth in 2011, he was back on the top step of the podium in Melbourne just 12 months ago.

He added: "(In Australia) Every single person in the paddock has a smile on their face again, so it is a very special race, a great place to start the season, and in such a beautiful setting. The Aussies are big fans of sport in general, so it's a place that works for me.

"I've had a good car to achieve what I have at the first race, but we also won in 2010 when we didn't really have such a good car, so maybe it suits my style.

"Maybe I'm more relaxed at the start of a year, more prepared. I don't know. It's just a race I really enjoy. And it's not just the race itself, but the atmosphere and the surroundings of Melbourne.

"There isn't a better location in the world to be kicking off what will no doubt be a fiercely competitive world championship."