Singapore GP: Brawn GP's Jenson Button relishing battle with Rubens Barrichello

Button leads Barrichello by 14 points in the drivers' championship with four races remaining, although it is the latter who is in the best form at the moment with two wins from the last three races.

Button, meanwhile, is without a win since capturing his sixth of the season at the Turkish Grand Prix in JuneConsequently, Barrichello has made up significant ground on his team-mate in recent races, although the challenge of Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber has faded.

And Button revealed he prefers to be challenging with Barrichello due to his better understanding of the Brazilian's tactics.

"I understand Rubens a lot more than Sebastian and Mark, and obviously he has the same equipment as me," said the 29-year-old.

"I need to finish as close to Rubens as I can in every race if I am thinking about the championship.

"As long as I qualify well and finish close to him then it is fine.

"However, as every driver will say, they don't want to do that, they want to go out and win and I have come to Singapore to challenge."

Button stressed the title battle has not damaged his relationship with Barrichello.

"The only way of going about it is fairly and we both understand that," he added.

"We both have the same tools so it is whoever does the best over the season that comes out on top.

"We both respect each other and it is exciting within the team. The atmosphere is good at the moment."

Despite his strong position at the top of the standings, Button is refusing to entertain thoughts of a world title just yet.

In 2007 fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton looked certain to claim the championship with a dominant lead heading into the final two races of the season only to be pipped to the title by Kimi Raikkonen at the final race.

"As Lewis said a couple of races ago, he had 17 points going into the last two races and lost it by a point," Button added.

"We just have to stay positive and take it as it comes.

"I am not going to drive slower or anything this weekend, I just have to do my own thing and get a good result."