Motorsport: Jenson Button reveals anguish over safety of 2015 McLaren

Jenson Button says he has confidence in the McLaren. Photo / AP

Jenson Button has revealed that he demanded assurances from McLaren that the car was safe in the wake of the accident that put Fernando Alonso out of tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix.

Button, entering his 16th season in Formula One after a surprise reprieve from McLaren at the end of last year, said he spent hours trawling through data readouts with his team's engineers until he was satisfied that there was no danger.

There has been persistent speculation about the circumstances of Alonso's crash on February 22, but McLaren have fervently denied suggestions the car failed. Button himself described the accident as "strange", according to Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman.

Speaking at Melbourne's Albert Park, a circuit on which he has won three times, Button said: "I will not get into a car unless I am 100 per cent sure it is safe. I spent hours going through the data with the engineers and talking to them about the incident and ... there was nothing wrong with the car - whatsoever.

"I needed to know that before getting into the car at the next test so I made sure of it. When you are driving a Formula One car at the limit, you need to be sure. I trust these guys and that is why I have the confidence to drive it this weekend. Everything is working correctly."

Button had to spend a night in hospital after a heavy crash at Monaco in 2003, but he was not concussed, unlike Alonso. Having been knocked unconscious, the Spaniard spent three nights in hospital, but is recovering at his home in Oviedo, northern Spain, to prepare for the second race of the season in Malaysia on March 29. The McLaren teammates exchanged text messages the week after Alonso's crash but have not spoken since. Kevin Magnussen, who was dropped at the end of last year, is standing in for Alonso in Melbourne.

Asked about Dennis' claim that the accident looked strange, Button added: "Of course it looks strange, he hit a wall. It's not a normal racing line around turn three in Barcelona, so yeah it looks strange."

But specifically on whether it was a regular testing accident, the 35-year-old said: "I can't comment on that. It's unfair." Dennis has been forced to swallow humble pie after contributing to a public relations fiasco for McLaren. He admitted he was wrong to say Alonso had not been concussed and that he "failed" in his attempt to be open and honest. "It was not the best performance by me," he said. "I understand why the press beat me up for being inaccurate."

Although Button is sure of the McLaren car's safety, its speed is almost completely unknown. Honda's return as engine supplier has been turbulent, with very little mileage covered in pre-season. Button could have been forgiven in hoping for more given the manufacturer's massive investment in the project.

"We definitely won't be fighting for a win here," he said. "The important thing for us is to see improvements every race and progress. I would rather not score points here and then win a race later in the year. I have no interest in scoring two or three points."