Jenson Button has revealed winning races and becoming a Formula One title contender has turned him into a "right boring b******".

After taking victory in four of this season's five grands prix, and opening up a 14-point lead over Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello, Frome-born Button has immersed himself in F1.

Freed from the constraints of driving an abysmal car over the last few years, and with it the need to escape such depression, the 29-year-old now finds himself unable to switch off from racing.

It is a new side to Button he has not encountered before, and one he knows is unlikely to impress new girlfriend Jessica Michibata, but one in which he is revelling.

"This year is weird because after winning the last couple of races, I wake up on a Monday morning and I'm already thinking about the next race," revealed Button.

"It's quite a strange feeling, very different to the rest of my Formula One career, winning four races out of five, but you do get used to it very quickly.

"I will never forget how difficult it can be, how tough it can get, but when you're winning, finishing second is a disappointment.

"But over the last few weeks I've been non-stop thinking about the next race, running through it in my mind, getting all the data.

"Before, I tried to take my mind away from it when it wasn't going well, and think about something else.

"There was a need to get away from the racing, to forget about it for a few days.

"Now I'm always thinking about the racing, it's always running through my mind.

"I'm probably a right boring b*****d at the moment, I really am – my girlfriend will tell me when she turns up tomorrow."

With his Monaco home across the water of the Monte Carlo harbour, making it five wins out of six is a dream – second only to winning at Silverstone.

"It was a dream just to win again after Hungary," smiled Button on his triumph in Australia at the start of this season nearly three years after his maiden success.

"It would be great to win here, but for me the most exciting race to win would be my home grand prix, for atmosphere's sake, with the British fans.

"You would hope at your home grand prix you've got more fans there than any other, so Silverstone would be the most special.

"But Monaco is up there, and it's such a unique circuit. It's very different to anything else.

"(If) you win here it doesn't mean you're going to win the championship, but there's nothing else like this circuit.

"It's a fun circuit to drive, and when you cross the line at the end of this race, it's a bonus in a way.

"Every lap is 100% around here, and you have to be totally focused and as precise as possible, but also with aggression.

"When you cross the line it's just a feeling of relief. Afterwards you are so tired, mentally and physically drained around here.

"So winning here would make it extra special."

It would certainly erase a lot of the pain he has felt throughout the years because in nine seasons he has managed one points finish, in 2004 when he was runner-up to Jarno Trulli by half a second.

He has retired twice, missed the race in 2003 when he crashed in Saturday practice, and again in 2005 as he was serving a two-race ban after an illegal fuel tank was discovered on his BAR.

As for the last three years with Honda, Button has trundled in 11th on each occasion, a fate he will surely avoid this year.

"If you look back at the stats you'd say it hasn't been fantastic, but then nor was Barcelona, and I won there," smiled Button.

"I think every circuit you go to, if you have a good car, then it's enjoyable. It's obvious really.

"But having a good car here, a car you feel completely in control with and very comfortable with, is important.

"If you are comfortable with it, and confident in it you can throw it around, you can find the limits of the car and the barriers.

"This is a fun circuit, and I'm looking forward to it."