Jenson Button is set to sign a three-year extension to his Honda contract in Formula 1, in an indication of his long-term commitment to the Japanese manufacturer's bid for grand prix glory.

Honda endured a miserable campaign in the top flight in last year - scoring just six points with its unloved and unwieldy RA107, all courtesy of the British ace - and 2008 had looked to be heading the same way after early testing of the new RA108 proved far from promising, the car invariably languishing right down at the bottom of the timesheets.

However, the arrival of former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn as the Brackley-based concern's new team principal at the end of last year has given Button renewed hope, and both he and team-mate Rubens Barrichello achieved far higher qualifying positions in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last weekend than might have been reasonably expected given the slow start to winter testing.

Though Button was unfortunately turfed out of the race on the opening lap of the race Down Under as a result of contact with Scuderia Toro Rosso's Sebasian Vettel, Honda CEO Nick Fry stressed the 27-year-old was a key part of the outfit's F1 future, and insisted he was confident of tying his charge down for a further three years.

"Our relationship with Jenson and his management is absolutely first-class," Fry told ITV. "He's really been an important part of pulling the team of people that we've now got together.

"Obviously he's looking towards the future as well, and our objective is to make him world champion. Jenson and the Honda team really are locked solid together."

Button has remained steadfastly loyal to Honda since he joined the squad back in 2003 - his fourth season in the uppermost echelon - but he dropped repeated hints last year that if there was not a dramatic upturn in short-term performance, he would not be sticking around for long. Fry was quick to praise his driver's dogged perseverance in the face of adversity, and added while he was optimistic of continuing the relationship, there was no rush to put pen to paper.

"He has really improved year-after-year," the 51-year-old underlined, "and even though last year was a difficult year for us, I think as a driver and an individual he continued to develop. He's certainly someone we want on our side.

"I think [the deal will be concluded] later this year. There's no big hurry - we've got a great relationship with each other and we can take our time."

Crash.net / Eurosport