Jenson Button "a lot happier" with progress

Jenson Button has revealed that he arrives in Australia for the opening Grand Prix of the 2012 season "a lot happier" than a year ago.

McLaren endured a tough start to the 2011 campaign, suffering a number of mechanical problems.

However, former world champion Button has more confidence in the McLaren car this time around.

"Arriving in Melbourne I'm a lot happier than I was last year. We've had a good winter in terms of reliability most of the time, except for my final day when the car had a hydraulics issue," he said.

"But I feel we have made good progress with the car, and there's nothing I'm afraid of with its balance. It listens to changes which is really important.

"So I'm very happy with the direction we've taken and with the package we have on the car, very happy, and I'm happy with what we've achieved so far."

Button won the world title in 2009.