Oct.8 (GMM) Jenson Button has rejected claims that he could be among the contenders for Fernando Alonso's McLaren seat in 2008 -- but said he appreciates the compliment of the formula one 'silly season'.

Honda has already announced that Button and current teammate Rubens Barrichello will remain at the struggling team next year.

That fact hasn't stopped rumours that the 27-year-old Briton might be an ideal teammate next year for Lewis Hamilton -- particularly in light of his previous contractual wrangles that became known as 'Button-gate'.

"It's nice that people are talking about me like that," Button, near the end of a demoralising season with Honda's RA107 package, told ITV.

"I think it's important that people are always talking about you for different seats in formula one, but I'm with Honda next year."

He also backed the Japanese team's 'earth car' concept for its F1 livery this year, despite rumours that - given the lack of competitiveness - Honda was under pressure to take a more conventional approach to on-car sponsorship in 2008.

Honda's Yasuhiro Wada confirmed last week that the concept "will continue" next year, even if it "doesn't necessarily mean the colour is exactly the same or not".

Button said: "I think the concept's worked. It needed to be done.

"The F1 world needed to know that there are issues out there and that we're trying to make a difference."