Mat Coch writes:

Jenson Button cut a relaxed figure in the paddock as he spoke to the media in the build-up to this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

Arriving in the city-state well ahead of the race weekend the 32-year-old has spent time running and cycling in an attempt to acclimatise himself to the oppressively humid conditions. "It's tough, so it's important to do extreme things outside," he explained. "Walking around is tough enough as it is but when you get in an F1 car the air, because it's so humid it's hot air, you don't really get a breather."

With Sunday's race expected to last almost two hours fitness is critical, though Button stopped short of saying the race is too long. "Physically it's demanding because it's so hot, but it's more because it's a street circuit as well. Two hours around a street circuit is mentally so draining because there's no room for error.

"I'm sure all of us have said it once that we think it's too long but we've just got to get over ourselves and race for two hours. We do the training, we know how difficult this race is."

Button and teammate Lewis Hamilton will both use their seventh Mercedes engines this weekend. With drivers allowed just eight fresh engines a year, and with Red Bull and Ferrari opting not to give their drivers a fresh power plant, it may give McLaren an edge in the short term, but hurt them later in the season.

"We all have our plans for the year and we just plan different races for different engines," said Button. "The amount you use is never an issue unless you blow an engine up, and we haven't done that. It's all going to plan."

McLaren has won the last three Grands Prix, closing the gap to Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship significantly. It's been fourteen years since McLaren last claimed the constructors' title, when Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard raced for the team, a fact not lost on Button.

"I think it's been more difficult for them than it has been for me because you know this is only my third year with the team.

"The thing with McLaren is it seems people stay with the team for a long time," Button continued. "McLaren doesn't normally bring a lot of people in to the team to work, they normally train them up which is great. I think it makes everyone feel a real part of this team.

"I think for the guys that have been here for that whole period it's been difficult," he confessed.

With speculation over who will partner Button at McLaren next year reaching fever pitch, and Hamilton refusing to answer questions on the topic, Button admitted he too is watching the media with interest. "Every day I read the papers, because we all do even if we say we don't, and the websites… There's a lot of good reading out there.

"I don't know how much truth there is in any of it, I'm not saying that you guys don't write the truth always, but there's a lot of interesting things coming up," he smirked. "Funnily enough there are no quotes from any of the people that are involved! It is amazing when you come up with so many stories from the actual people involved saying yes or no!"

Recent speculation has linked Sauber's Sergio Perez with a move to the team if Hamilton decides to move on, though Button confessed he has had little to do with the Mexican. "To be fair we don't really talk that much," he admitted. "I don't know where he's going to be next year.

"There's a lot of talk and it's an exciting part of the season for everyone," he continued. "For me obviously I know where I am next year so it's a lot more straight forward but it's interesting reading all of the rumours. There's a lot of guesswork going on for everyone I think and it's quite interesting."