Briton Jenson Button has heaped praise on compatriot Ross Brawn's work as Honda team principal and predicted a major upswing in their fortunes next season.

Button, who has endured several frustrating seasons with Honda, is certain that the team will improve rapidly in 2009 and stressed that he plans to stay with the Japanese outfit.

"I think this is a good place to be and that is why I think I'm sure other top drivers in Formula 1, who aren't in a Ferrari or a McLaren, would be interested in driving here next year," said Button.

"They know that Ross has achieved a lot in the past. For sure it is not just down to one man, but they know that he knows what it takes to be world champion.

"It's not like a driver knowing what it takes, because while he has his input, it's nowhere near as much as a technical director or a team principal.

"Ross is controlling the team very well and putting people in the right places to do their jobs correctly, and making sure that we are all working together as we should be.

"He knows the areas that we needed to improve in, which have improved in a lot already this season. So I have no worries about the team for the future."

He added: "I don't think there is another team that any driver could drive for that is going to do a better job than this team next season."

Button has admitted that if Honda had not recruited Brawn, he might have walked away at the end of his contract this year.

"Last year I was pretty upset with the way things were going. I knew that something had to change or else I wasn't going to be happy here," he said.

"But the whole team realised that things needed to change, so they did."

AFP