Button to stroke it to title in Brazil
The lowest step of the podium at Interlagos will guarantee the Brawn driver wraps up the championship with a race to spare, and his opponents Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel confirmed that their only possible strategy is victory.
"They need to be more aggressive than I am, for sure," Button, 29, told reporters in Brazil.
The Briton deflected criticism that his championship, if achieved, will be remembered for a second half devoid of victories since June and an apparent struggle to even keep up with the occupant of the sister car.
"I haven't purposely gone out to finish in the points and not win races," Button hit back. "I don't just want to finish in the points.
"No, that has never been my objective, but there are situations you don't want to put yourself into — where you could have an accident, for instance. It's just making sure you are not doing anything stupid.
"I think I've had a reasonably good balance," he added.
Button has led the championship all the way through the season, and on Thursday he pointed out that formula one "is not a one-race series, it's 17 races".
"I go out to get the best out of the car in every race I compete in but when you're leading (the championship) you've got to be a bit cautious in some areas, but also in other areas you need to be aggressive otherwise you don't pick up any points at all."
He said his passes on Heikki Kovalainen at Monza and Robert Kubica at Suzuka prove he has not adopted a policy of "sit back and hope for the best result".
"You need to make the moves when you can, and that's what I've been doing," Button insisted.