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Jenson Button says he enjoyed the challenge of racing against Lewis Hamilton

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Jenson Button says being Lewis Hamilton's teammate at McLaren helped him deliver his best Formula One performances and victories

Former world champion Jenson Button says racing against Lewis Hamilton inspired the most satisfying wins of his career.

The 37-year-old and current world champion Hamilton both drove for McLaren between 2010 and 2012, and Button told Sky Sports that their rivalry led to some intense battles.

"Our relationship was interesting," said Button. "Because I came from Brawn, where I won the world championship in 2009 - and he won the previous world championship in 2008, with McLaren.

"I moved to his team, if you like, so I walked in the door looking for that challenge of racing against Lewis Hamilton.

"Both British, racing for a British team, both world champions, fresh new world champions, so it put a lot of pressure on us and that made it fun, I really enjoyed that challenge.

"He is unbelievably quick and, over one lap, he is the quickest guy I think that has ever driven a Formula One car.

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (R) of Britain and teammate McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button of Britain celebrate with champagne after winning
Image: Button and Hamilton enjoyed great success together between 2010 and 2012

"In a race, I could challenge him, and we could race for wins.

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"Over those three years we won a lot and some of the races I did win were the best races in my career, because I had to beat Lewis to achieve them."

Button retired from Formula One after the 2016 season but made a one-off appearance in 2017, when he stood in for Fernando Alonso in Monaco.

The former world champion's book 'Life To The Limit' is among 12 contenders for the Autobiography of the Year at the 2018 Sports Book Awards.

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