McLaren's two world championship winning drivers, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, are looking forward to the World Cup, hoping that England will emulate their own success.

Are you looking forward to the World Cup?
Lewis Hamilton: Absolutely. I'm definitely going to be watching it. I'm just excited, I think everyone is excited to watch the World Cup, to really see how we do. For 2010, we have a great new line-up. It's unfortunate that we just lost a great captain, but it's a team game and it's all about the country and its boys pulling together. England has a fine tradition of supporting their team, and I know that this year we stand a greater chance than ever of winning the World Cup.

Any thoughts ahead of the first England game on Saturday?
LH: Not really. I don't feel we're going to have problems in the first game, but I don't think the guys should take it easy. They should at least pace themselves and then bring it 100 per cent for Brazil in the semi-finals

Do you have any particular World Cup memories?
LH: Not really. I think the one that really sticks in my mind was when David Beckham got in trouble [playing against Argentina, in 1998]. But all the games have been exciting, and I've always supported England.

Will it be a distraction during grand prix weekends?
LH: Well, the first England match is against the USA on Saturday afternoon - right after qualifying. So when I sit down with my engineers, I'm sure it will be on in the background - so I don't think we should debrief until after the game! I've definitely got football fever. It's already kicked in - now I just need to go out and get a shirt!

Will you be catching up on the World Cup action over the race weekend?
Jenson Button: I'm not sure whether I'll catch Saturday's game because it's straight after quali, and I don't know where I'll be, but hopefully I'll get to watch it with the team. Perhaps our [post-qualifying] engineering debrief will go out the window for a couple of hours!

Is the World Cup a distraction when you're at a race?
JB: Obviously, the grand prix is the most important thing for us this weekend, but second to that will be watching the game

How do you rate England's chances this time?
JB: I don't think it will be easy as some people believe. Hopefully, the boys won't be too nervous, but they know what they're doing. It's like us when it comes to racing.

What does the World Cup mean to you?
JB: I'm very patriotic and I'll always support my country. I get very excited by international sport, so I'm looking forward to it. It's an amazing event because the whole world will be watching, and everyone becomes so competitive and so patriotic. I love it. It's such an important thing, and I'm sure the whole of England is going crazy with excitement at the moment.

Any plans to catch a game live?
JB: I don't know. A couple of friends have asked me to go out and would look after me, which would be amazing. I'm not sure if I'm free, but I'm going to try my best to get out there. It would be an amazing opportunity because I've never been to watch a game at that level. It would be very special. Hopefully, we're going to be in the tournament for quite a while so it would be nice to get the chance to get out and watch England.