JENSON Button is relieved to have finally won over Sir Jackie Stewart.

Three-times world champion Stewart was one of many who questioned the wisdom of Button’s decision to quit Brawn GP at the end of last season after winning the title and join McLaren.

The venerable Scot suggested Button was ‘‘stepping into the lion’s den’’ given Lewis Hamilton’s influence over the Woking-based team.

But in the wake of scoring two victories from this season’s opening four grands prix and leading the way going into tomorrow’s race in Spain, Stewart revised his opinion, hailing Button a ’lion-tamer.’ ‘‘It’s nice of him to apologise, and when you hear nice comments it’s great, especially from someone who has achieved so much in Formula One,’’ Button said.

‘‘People are always entitled to their own opinion, and it’s always interesting to hear it from someone like Jackie who has been around and experienced many different situations.

‘‘Whether it’s good or bad, and we all like to hear good things rather than bad things, it’s good to listen.

‘‘I know how I feel inside, and I’m the best person to judge myself.

‘‘I’m very critical of the way I am, the way I drive, how I act within the team, and also as a person.

‘‘But Jackie is welcome to his comments, which are nice and a positive.

‘‘I’m sure I’ll have negative comments made about me this season as well. They balance each other out, but it’s nice that Jackie is now positive.’’ Stewart’s original remark is the kind likely to be regurgitated on occasion depending on the circumstances, in particular if Hamilton starts to maul Button on the track.

The 30-year-old, though, is unconcerned as he said: ‘‘I’m not too worried about it. It didn’t hurt my driving in the first part of the season.

‘‘I’m confident in my ability and confident as a person, and very relaxed. I’ve won the world championship. I’ve achieved my goal that I set out to achieve.

‘‘I’ve said before, if my career ended now, I would end it as a very happy person.

‘‘I’ve some great stories to tell, and I can look at my trophy on the mantelpiece and say ’I’ve won the world championship in Formula One’.

How many people have done that?

‘‘But I’m here now and I want to achieve more this season.

I want to win the championship.

‘‘But because I achieved what I set out to do, I’ve no pressure.”