Button begins testing for Brawn

Brawn and Button faced an uncertain season prior to Honda's late reprieve

Brawn GP, formerly the Honda Formula One team, began four days of testing in Spain on Monday with Britain's Jenson Button behind the wheel.

Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello have retained their places for this season in the new Mercedes-powered car.

Button, who has taken a big pay cut to stay in F1, topped the timesheets two hours into the session after 20 laps.

Owner Ross Brawn said he hopes the team make a "respectable" start to the season in Australia on 29 March.

And the early signs from the Spanish Grand Prix circuit are promising.

Button's fastest lap for Honda in last year's Spanish Grand Prix was 1:22.353 but he recorded an unofficial time of 1:22.414 in the Brawn car, running without branding in its new black, white and yellow colour scheme, on his first full day driving since 19 November.

SPORT EDITORS' BLOG Our plans for F1 coverage this year... BBC Sport's Mark Wilkin

Honda Racing decided to withdraw from F1 in early December as a result of the global financial crisis, but ex-team principal and former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn confirmed last Friday that he had taken over the team.

McLaren's partners Mercedes have replaced Honda as the engine provider, with the new V8 unit believed to be providing around 60 horsepower more than the one used by Button last year, and they are hoping for a big step up in performance.

In 2008, Honda had a miserable season with Button scoring just three points from 18 races.

But after Honda announced their departure Brawn said the new car was considered a potential race winner.

• Nail fungus treatment
• payday loans in arizona