JENSON Button has dismissed talk that Ferrari's Fernando Alonso could join McLaren soon as "utter rubbish".

The Briton, speaking after Practice 2 at the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix on Friday night, told reporters: "I don't know why he would leave a team that is his family.

"I think it's people trying to make stories up that don't exist because we've run out of stories now."

Upon being told that the Spaniard had also told the media that he would stay with the Italian outfit, he added: "I don't know why the rumours are still going then. It's from the horse's mouth."

Button, who had finished P2 seventh on 1min 45.754sec, also said that the Red Bulls - who topped the practice times in P2 - were the ones to beat. World champion Sebastian Vettel topped the time sheets on 1:44.249 while Mark Webber was 0.604sec behind.

"The Red Bulls are unbelievably quick," said Button. "They're just another category."

But he noted that his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who is now with Mercedes, was also one to watch.

He said: "I think Lewis will be up there. He showed his hand in P1, and I don't think he gave it his all in P2. We'll see tomorrow."