Mansell hails Button, Button defends Hamilton

Jenson Button is the "best in the business" and set to cruise to the 2009 world championship, according to Nigel Mansell.

While the 1992 world champion and fellow Briton is usually reserved in his praise for Lewis Hamilton, Mansell cannot hide his admiration for this year's runaway title leader.

In the past two years, when Mansell has commented on McLaren's Hamilton, it sparked headlines including 'Mansell cool on Hamilton hype', 'Mansell says Hamilton crown less credible', and 'Hamilton learning F1 not easy - Mansell'.

It has been suggested that Mansell, 55, relates more to 29-year-old Button because of their similarly long and winding roads to success.

"The great thing is Jenson served a very long apprenticeship and now it's coming together," he is quoted as saying by The Sun.

Button, however, relates to Hamilton's current situation, and the struggle to win critical praise while at the wheel of an uncompetitive car.

"I think Lewis is driving well," the former Honda driver told the Guardian, "and I actually think he has been driving better this year than some of last year."