Button had only won one grand prix prior to this season

Three-time World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx believes Jenson Button deserves to win the 2009 Formula 1 drivers' world championship.

Priaulx and Somerset's Button became firm friends after appearing in several Race of Champions as a team.

"At this level all the drivers are so good you just need the car to do it," said Guernsey's Priaulx.

"It's great for Jenson and for his career if he can win this championship because I think he deserves it."

As Jenson prepares to return to his home track in the British Grand Prix, Priaulx said: "Clearly the guy is on a roll, it would be lovely for him to win Silverstone, however he has already won six races and sooner or later the other teams will catch up."

Priaulx is impressed by the way Button dealt with the media attention focussed on him in recent years: "He's been so dignified over the last four or five seasons with a car that hasn't been capable of winning.

"He's held his head up high with a lot of criticism from the media and people saying he's not good enough.

"Clearly it's just been the car, you just need to look at Lewis Hamilton this year to see what a bad car can do to you."

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