McLaren driver Jenson Button has insisted that teams will be able to close the gap to the early pace-setters much more quickly this season, thanks to the new rule changes.

Button, who did admit that he expected Mercedes to dominate the Malaysian Grand Prix, said that with some tweaks to the car's aerodynamics McLaren should be able to catch the German team this year.

"It is always tough, but I think this year is easier than most with the big regulation changes," Sky Sports News quotes Button as saying.

"I think aerodynamically there is a lot to gain still with efficiency and downforce - the direction we have gone with this car is to have a basic car that feels right and balanced and then to build on downforce and that is exactly what we have done.

"Out of the box the car was what we expected, a little bit low on downforce, but as long as we keep developing the car as we plan to we should be able to catch Mercedes."

McLaren are currently leading the constructors' championship following the opening Grand Prix in Melbourne.