A number of key passes were made when the system was deployed in Malaysia, and the layout of the Shanghai International Circuit is promising to deliver similar fare come Sunday.

The early races have witnessed McLaren locked in a battle for supremacy with Red Bull, with world champion Sebastian Vettel taking two wins from two for the Milton Keynes outfit, but Button expects the new DRS system to give rise to an intense duel at the front this weekend.

He said: “Along the massive back straight, even without DRS, I still think there’ll be plenty of opportunity for overtaking – especially if we see the same sort of close racing as we witnessed in Malaysia. If that’s where they put the DRS zone for the race, then I think we’ll see some spectacular passing – and possibly even re-passing – down that back straight.”

Button is in luck. The FIA today confirmed that the back straight is precisely where the DRS zone will be – drivers can use the device on just one part of the circuit on race day – and the Briton is confident that will help McLaren’s cause.

“Off the back of two successive podium finishes for the team, we’re not only hopeful of maintaining our finishing record, but of improving it too,” he continued.

“We’ve made no secret of our desire to take the fight to Red Bull, and we’re fully aware that stronger opposition will make it harder for them to have a smooth and uninterrupted weekend.

“As we expected, Malaysia showed that the sharp-end of the grid is incredibly competitive, and that there are at least four teams that can expect to fight for the podium this weekend.”

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh is confident revisions to the car this weekend will ramp up the pressure on Red Bull.

The Woking-based team are planning on running with a new floor and exhaust in Friday practice, and Whitmarsh said: “Coming just a week after Malaysia, it’s essential that we maintain the thrust of our development programme in order to further close the gap to the front.

“To achieve that, we’ll be spending Friday evaluating a number of new components alongside our regular tyre and set-up programmes. The development race is where this year’s world championship will be won or lost.”

Lewis Hamilton’s second place for the team in Melbourne was a pleasant surprise after poor times in pre-season testing, while Button’s determined drive to the runners-up spot in Sepang again underlined the strides taken by the team.

And Whitmarsh believes now is the time for his team to turn the screw.

“For this race, we know we have to step up the pressure: we’re looking to hit the ground running on Friday, maintain that momentum through Saturday, and be in with the best possible chance of taking victory on Sunday,” he said.

“I think we’re quite close, but I’d like to be either closer or ahead, and that’s our job. I think we can catch Red Bull, but they won’t stand still. It depends on what they do because if they wait for us we’ll definitely pass them shortly.”