Rivalry is helping McLaren

If Red Bull and Vettel are pulling the wool over people’s eyes and the 22-year-old is a de facto number one, according to Button, “that is going to hurt them both”.

In contrast, Button and team-mate Lewis Hamilton would appear to be genuine equals, with the reigning champion adding: “I know 100 per cent we get treated in the same way.

“I don’t mean with regards to equipment, I mean the way the people are around us.

“My mechanics probably want me to win and his want him to win. It’s that in-fighting which is exciting, but is not over the top.

“It’s the way it should be, and it’s working very well for us.”

Button, though, does not feel that will result in a battle for the title between himself and Hamilton alone as he is still wary of the threat posed by Red Bull.

“I’m sure in speaking to Red Bull after the previous race in Monaco they would have thought ‘Wow, we’ve such a margin of performance we are going to walk it,”‘ added Button.