Ex-F-1 world champ Jody hails 'tough' Button

London, Dec.8 (ANI): Former world champion Jody Scheckter has hailed Jenson Button's "toughness" as the key to the Brit's world championship.

Speaking exclusively to Sun Sport, Scheckter said criticism of Button's mid-season slump was not justified.

Asked if Button was a worthy world champ, Scheckter replied: "Very much so, yeah."

He added: "OK, he had a hard time in the middle of the season. But it's always very difficult when you are leading the championship to get a balance between aggression and conservatism. Jenson found it tough - and it is very tough to do that. I know. I've been through it. And Jenson came through it, too."

South African-born Scheckter, now a successful organic farmer based in Hampshire, was speaking at the annual Autosport Awards gala at London's Grosvenor House hotel.

He was there to present a "lifetime achievement" gong to his old team, Ferrari, which was picked up by the Italian team's principal Stefano Domenicali. (ANI)