DAVID COULTHARD believes Formula One world champion Jenson Button could struggle in the wake of McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton this season.

Button’s lap times were slower in testing this week in Valencia, where he complained about the seat in the new McLaren following his move from Brawn at the end of last season.

Coulthard said: “McLaren will supply equal opportunity in terms of machinery. Whether they can make both drivers feel equally loved is more difficult for them to achieve.

“If Jenson can match the pace of Lewis there won’t be a problem. If Jenson is struggling by half a tenth (of a second), psychologically that is him losing. He will be on a downward spiral where he’ll start searching for support in the team.

“McLaren might struggle to pick him up out of that. If McLaren have a winning car, then both cars can’t win. If Lewis is getting across the line first then they are not going to be bothered. They are not going to devalue Lewis’ performance to enhance Jenson’s.”

Coulthard, however, applauded Button’s decision to take on the challenge.

He said: “Jenson could have stayed comfortably at Brawn and rode out a championship year.

“He was part of the furniture. Now already he has had difficulty getting his seat right in practice.

“Jenson’s coming from further behind so I would expect Lewis to have the upper hand in the early part of the year. But it’s a great chance for Jenson to show he is a great driver and worthy of being world champion.”