Button happy to miss Mugello tests

Despite Lewis Hamilton getting itchy feet and now considering joining the testing sessions in Mugello, McLaren team-mate Jenson Button is content to stay at home.

Part of the new FIA regulations for 2012 has seen the introduction of set in-season testing sessions introduced to the Formula One calendar.

Previously any form of in-season testing had been banned from Formula One, but for three days starting on May 1st, all the teams, except HRT, are expected to attend the session at the Italian circuit of Mugello.

It isn't clear how the teams will use the testing session, Ferrari are giving Fernando Alonso two days behind the wheel and Felipe Massa one day, Sauber are doing something similar with Kamui Kobayashi testing the first two days and Sergio Perez the third day, while Caterham, Lotus and Force India have split the three days equally between three drivers. For Caterham test driver Rodolfo Gonzalez will take the first day, with Vitaly Petrov taking day two and Heikki Kovalainen taking day three. At Lotus Jérôme D'Ambrosio will take day one, Kimi Raikkonen day two and Romain Grosjean day three. At Force India Jules Bianchi will take the seat on the opening day, before handing it over to Paul di Resta on Wednesday, while Nico Hulkenberg will get his chance on Thursday.

The McLaren team had previously announced that neither 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton or 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button would be taking part.

Instead the test sessions will be handed over to 31-year-old Gary Paffett and 25-year-old Oliver Turvey, meaning that McLaren would be the only team attending with neither of their regular drivers.

Gary Paffett first joined the McLaren team in 2005, but is better known for racing in German touring car series DTM where he has 16 victories and 1 title to his name.

Oliver Turvey joined McLaren in 2009 and has experience racing in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, GP2 Asia Series and GP2.

Both drivers took part in the young driver test back in November at the Yas Marina circuit, but neither have raced in Formula One.

It isn't clear if Lewis Hamilton will attend the test, but it would seem clear that Jenson Button has no intention of joining in.

'The reason why we're not there is because we've never been to Mugello before,' Button told Sky Sports.

'I don't really think we will be a benefit because there aren't any massive updates to try.

'For the test drivers to put some miles on parts and try some very extreme things, then I think it's good, but it's not necessary for us to be there.'