Hamilton: All set for Button battle

Lewis Hamilton believes he is in his best shape for years as he prepares for what he feels may be "the most exciting Formula One season yet."

It is a season that sees the 25-year-old partnered by last year's World Champion Jenson Button, and with seven-time king Michael Schumacher returning to the sport after a three-year hiatus.

Naturally, the pre-season talk is currently focusing on how Button will fair against Hamilton, who has been with McLaren since 1998.

To that end, and to ensure equality, McLaren have announced a behind-the-scenes reshuffle with Phil Prew, Hamilton's race engineer for the last three years, overseeing both drivers.

Although Button officially started life at McLaren at the turn of the year, they have yet to bump into one another, although when they do Hamilton can foresee no issues.

"What he did last year was incredible, and what he has done in his career has been remarkable," said Hamilton on Button.

"I haven't had the chance to meet up with him yet. We've both been away training, but later on this month is when we get to do our first bit of work together, and I'm sure we'll get on very well.

"Clearly we both want to go into the season on the right foot, and we're going to be working together to push the team forward, but we also both want to win.

"Jenson's got a huge amount of experience and I'm heading into my fourth year, so I've quite good experience as well, so I think we will both just feed off each other, learn a huge amount from one another.

"When two good drivers work together in the same direction towards the same goal, they push the team forward twice as fast as when there are two drivers going in different directions.

"So I see it (Button's arrival) as a real positive for the team. I'm very excited to get to the first test and have his input into our team."

As for Schumacher's comeback, with the 41-year-old taking up the space vacated by Button at Mercedes GP, that only adds extra spice to proceedings for Hamilton.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he added: "I kind of had a feeling he would come back, and it's incredible for the sport.

"I really do think 2010 could perhaps be the most exciting season of Formula One yet.

"Unfortunately we don't have Kimi (Raikkonen), but we've Michael, Fernando Alonso, Jenson, me, Felipe Massa - all the best drivers and all in good teams.

"But having Michael back, the seven-time World Champion, is exciting for all us drivers because what he's achieved is incredible. We're honoured.

"We're all just proud to be on the same track as him, but of course we'll all want to beat him."

Hamilton feels after a tough 2009 in the wake of the 'liargate' scandal and McLaren's early-season demise before they eventually returned to winning ways, he is ready to take on Button, Schumacher et al.

Conceding to being "most at peace" when is in a F1 car, he added: "Throughout the season I grew a lot as an individual. I made some mistakes, but I grew from those, learned a huge amount.

"I feel I'm a little less immature, a bit wiser and I hope that will reflect on my approach and performance this year.

"I hope it will help me in my decision-making process and all that stuff in the future.

"I feel physically I'm in the best shape I've been in for a long time.

"Mentally, as a driver and as a person, all round, I definitely am in a better position."

Source: Hamilton: All set for Button battle - Planet-F1 News from planet-f1.com