I'll fight all way to keep title –Button

Button’s chances of keeping a grip on the crown he won 12 months ago in Brazil are slim given he trails Fernando Alonso by 42 points.

With Button also knowing he has to overhaul Red Bull pairing Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, as well as McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton, the 30-year-old faces a tough task.

Effectively, Button, who has not won a grand prix since the fourth race of the year in China, has to take the chequered flag in the last two events to have any prospect of becoming Britain’s first back-to-back world champion.

Despite the daunting prospect, Button said: “I’ve always said I will fight until it’s mathematically impossible.

“Sure, looking at it written down on paper, you’ve got to admit it’s a long shot. But I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I chose not to go for it, and then circumstances transpired to give me a full run at the title.

“So for me the situation’s the same – I’ll be fighting until it’s no longer possible for me.

“In Formula 1 you just never know. It’s totally possible I could win at Interlagos, take home maximum points and have none of the other title contenders finish.”