LONDON, Dec 4 - Briton Jenson Button will miss Formula One testing in Jerez this week to allow him more time to recover from a rib injury.

The Honda driver missed the first post-season test in Barcelona last week after he suffered two hairline cracks to his ribs while go-karting as part of his training routine.

"We decided we shouldn't rush him back into the car and risk aggravating the condition," said a team spokeswoman on Monday.

Honda will reassess the situation at the end of the week to see whether the 26-year-old, winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, should take part in next week's final test of the year at the southern Spanish circuit.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and newly-appointed test drivers Christian Klien of Austria and Briton James Rossiter drove for Honda last week.