SAO PAULO: Jenson Button said on Thursday that he believed Fernando Alonso deserved to win this year's Formula One drivers world championship more than his rival defending champion Sebastian Vettel.

On the same afternoon that Vettel hit back at critics who suggested he was being carried to glory by a supreme and dominant car – and that he had earned his titles and his reputation as a great driver – Button begged to differ.

Asked who he felt deserved to win the title, the 2009 champion said:

“Probably Fernando, because he's been there from the word go and he hasn't really made any mistakes this year and he's been consistently quick.

“He's done a very good job in the car he has. Seb's been more inconsistent this year. The

last few races he's been fantastic with a great car.

“I think if you look at the season as a whole, consistency does mean a lot, and it's good to see that Fernando has been that good at every race. Very impressive to see that performance every race.”

Button added that Alonso and Ferrari's turnaround after a troubled start to the year had taken him aback.

“I said at the first race I didn't think he had a chance,” said Button. “He was a second off in qualifying, or even more. But they've done a good job, and he's done a great job.”