Buemi: I'd Prefer Button as Teammate

Sebastien Buemi seems to have already gotten used to breathing Formula 1 air. Although he is still waiting confirmation of his racing seat with Toro Rosso for the upcoming season, the Swiss driver has already urged his future team to bringing in Jenson Button as his future teammate. Button's presence in Formula 1 next year is yet to be decided following Honda's quit earlier this month.

“I am hoping for a strong team-mate in 2009. I would prefer Button. However, Honda could return next season as the new cost cutting measures could see budgets drop by 40 per cent,” added Buemi following his impressive testing performances at Jerez last week.

Toro Rosso is yet to make a final decision on their roaster for next season, with three drivers allegedly fighting for the 2 vacant seats . However, with Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz already tipping Buemi with more than 80% chances of making the cut, it's now between Takuma Sato and 4-times Champcar winner Sebastien Bourdais who will join Buemi in next year's lineup.

The 'Button solution' appeared during the last few days, following Ross Brawn's failing to yet secure sponsorhip for Honda's F1 team in 2009. Despite the latest cost-cutting measures imposed by the FIA as soon as next season, nobody seems to be interested in investing large sums of money for supporting an F1 outfit. That being said, both Rubens Barrichello (or Bruno Senna) and Jenson Button may be sidelined for the entire 2009 season.

If Rubens Barrichello was already one step out of the sport before Honda's official quit, Button is very much keen on continuing his F1 career. The British driver insisted during the course of last weekend's Race of Champions – at Wembley Stadium – that he is looking at 'any opportunity' to race in the Formula 1 next season.