Former Formula One world champion Jenson Button of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team expects to break a jinx and defend his title at the Shanghai Grand Prix this weekend, as no driver has won the race twice.

"We are going to try to change that," said the 31-year-old Button. "We are going to try to make sure that you can win this race twice. That has to be my aim this weekend."

Last year, the British driver led McLaren to a one-two finish in a rain-affected and incident-packed Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

But in the seven-year history of the Shanghai GP, no driver has successfully defended his championship.

On the current drivers' ranking, Sebastian Vettel, of the Red Bull team, has so far this season been perfect, with two pole-to-flag wins in Australia and Malaysia that have yielded a maximum 50 points.

Button is his closest challenger with 26 points, while his McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton is third with 22.

On the team rankings, Red Bull is leading with 72 points, followed by McLaren with 48 and Ferrari with 36.

For the Shanghai GP, Button is keen to beat the leading team, Red Bull, said the 2009 F1 world champion at a promotion event for the team's lubricant sponsor Mobil 1 in Shanghai on Thursday.

"Red Bull are champions in F1. They've achieved a lot," Button said.

"They are very, very fierce competitors. We are all trying to chase them at the moment. I think we have an opportunity this weekend to fight with the Red Bull."