Jenson Button says that he and Lewis Hamilton will be working together as they bid to win the world championship for McLaren.

Button, who turned 30 on Tuesday, won the 2009 drivers' championship for Brawn GP, while Hamilton was the 2008 winner.

Bookmakers currently have Hamilton as the favourite for this year's title, with Button only fifth in the betting, but the Frome flyer insists that he and Hamilton will have a close relationship.

"Whatever happens this year happens, but first of all we need to work together to be competitive," Button told the BBC.

"We really do need to work closely together, and Lewis understands that as well. It's an exciting partnership.

"We'll have a close relationship and will work in the same direction.

"We'll be fierce rivals on the circuit but to be quick and to fight for the world championships we need to work together – and that's what we'll do.

"It's been negative and positive for both of us and if we bring it together we'll be a lot stronger package this season.

"I wouldn't have won the world championship without (Brawn team-mate) Rubens Barrichello.

"We built the car up, we pushed for improvements, we worked together as a team and you see what happens at the end of the year.

"The only way of changing that is by working hard at the start of the year."

Button will begin testing the new McLaren car in Valencia on February 3 and is pleased with how he has settled into the team so far, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which kicks off the season on March 14.

"Before I came to the team I didn't really know what to expect and I think we all struggle with change a little bit but so far the time I've spent with the team has been great," he said.

"I can work with my engineers in the simulator and I have a really good relationship with Jakob (Andreasen) and Dave (Robson).

"So it's been a good start and a good base to the relationship for this season."

Meanwhile, Button used a visit to the Autosport International event in Birmingham last weekend to tell his fans that he has been working hard but has plenty more work to do.

He also said that he was "blown away" by the reception that he received as world champion.

"It's been so nice. I've had many months to think about today and being at Autosport International as world champion," he said.

"I obviously had my expectations because I've been here before, and it's always been busy. But today was amazing, I was blown away.

"We are hoping for a positive test but there is still a lot of work to do before that," said Button.

"I've been at the factory and in the simulator a lot as we build up to the first test, because I don't want any excuse when I get to the first race alongside Lewis.

"The holidays are over, the season starts here, and I want to be ready, 100 per cent."