Jenson Button , newly wearing a wedding ring , can afford to smile even if some of the rituals of his long career in Formula One will not be repeated at Sunday ’ s Australian Grand Prix . Three times he has won around Albert Park . There is little chance of that tally being added to in his temperamental McLaren-Honda . There is absolutely no chance of a pre-race coffee and post-race celebratory fish and chips at the Stokehouse on St Kilda beach . It has burned down . McLaren 's Jenson Button is gearing up for his 16th season in Formula One . Button has recorded three victories in Melbourne during his career . But , aged 35 , just being here is the great boon . A 16th season beckons after he feared being dropped last year to make way for Fernando Alonso , the incoming double world champion from Ferrari . But he was kept on — the result of a boardroom fight between McLaren chairman Ron Dennis , who favoured Kevin Magnussen partnering Alonso , and fellow shareholder Mansour Ojjeh , who supported whichever driver Dennis did not want . Ojjeh won . ‘ This is where I should be , ’ said Button in the paddock on Thursday . ‘ It doesn ’ t feel like a bonus , it feels normal , — and exciting because it is such an exciting new package of engine and car. ’ But as cruel irony would have it , Alonso will miss this race after he banged his head in testing and Magnussen has been called up to replace him in tandem with Button . Button poses with the NSX concept vehicle at a Honda F1 Grand Prix press conference . Alonso ’ s accident in Barcelona last month prompted a host of theories : among them that he had a fit before losing control or suffered an electric shock . The second theory is totally denied by the team . Button , however , was concerned enough to examine the data of Alonso ’ s car to satisfy himself there was nothing for him to fear . ‘ I will not get into a car unless I am 100 per cent sure that it is safe , ’ he said . ‘ I spent hours going through the data with the engineers and talking to them about the incident . ‘ 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 certain of it . ‘ When you are driving 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. ’ Yes , but not as fast as McLaren would like . They are nowhere near the top teams — in expected order : Mercedes , by miles , Williams , Red Bull and Ferrari . Button , a glass-half-full sort of man , was realistic in his assessment of his team ’ s prospects . Button married his fiancee Jessica Michibata in a secret ceremony in Hawaii in January . ‘ 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 . ‘ The power unit package is so tight and so advanced that you do have issues and we have had more issues than we would have liked . ‘ Whether we score points here or not is irrelevant ; it is all about improvements race to race . ‘ I would rather not score points here and then win a race later in the year. ’ This prognosis is a bit dispiriting given the expectations generated by McLaren ’ s new partnership with Honda . Should the team ’ s fortunes not turn around , questions will be asked about the success of the restructuring carried out a year ago . Martin Whitmarsh , who it was yesterday announced will take over as chief executive of Sir Ben Ainslie ’ s America ’ s Cup challenge , was sacked as team principal . Eric Boullier was brought in to replace him and Dennis took on a more involved role as chief executive . ‘ We are a year behind the other manufacturers and the design is more aggressive to be a challenge to Mercedes in the future , ’ added Button . ‘ Honda are the manufacturer who will take it to Mercedes . There are going to be teething problems , but it is about answering those issues right now. ’ While Button brings his experience to bear , another British driver , Will Stevens , is just starting out . The 23-year-old Essex-born racer made his debut in Abu Dhabi for Caterham last November and the Australian Grand Prix should be his first race for Manor , if they qualify by the 107 per cent rule — within seven per cent of the pole-sitting car ’ s time . He drove well on his debut and was assured in his press briefing yesterday . Stevens , whose father is a successful financial figure , comes with an estimated £5million of personal sponsorship to fund his ride . He has signed a one-year contract . ‘ Two months ago you couldn ’ t say I would definitely be here , ’ he said of the last-minute deal that saved Manor . ‘ There were other options , but we held out for this. ’ He has even less chance of scoring points than Button . ‘ We need to try to be here at the end of the race to pick up the pieces , ’ he said .
Jessica Michibata has recorded three victories in Melbourne during his career . The McLaren driver was kept on for 16th season due to a boardroom fight . He married his fiancee Jenson Button in a secret ceremony in January .