Jenson Button has admitted that having Fernando Alonso as his teammate next season will "mean a lot".

Last week, McLaren announced that the Spaniard would be racing for the Honda-powered team in 2015, with Kevin Magnussen demoted to the role of test driver.

Button admits that driving alongside the double world champion will be a "big challenge", but is relishing the prospect.

He is quoted by Crash.net as saying: "To be racing alongside Fernando really does mean a lot. I think we all know what he has achieved in F1, not just his speed but how he works within a team, and how he is always there fighting.

"For me to have a teammate like that really does mean a lot. We have known each other since 2001, we were actually teammates at another team [Renault] - I was racing and he was test driver, and then he took my seat for next year [2003]. So we know each other pretty well.

"With 500 Grands Prix between us, I think we are pretty experienced, and I think we will play a major role helping McLaren Honda achieve great things in the future."

Alonso spent one season with McLaren in 2007 before leaving following a fall out with Ron Dennis.