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Reuters: Jenson Button has indicated he might not stay at McLaren even if the Formula One team offered him a contract extension for next season.
With speculation swirling about his future, and reports already suggesting the 2009 world champion is set to retire, Button said no decision had been made but he had plenty of options.
He added that it made little difference whether the decision came before the end of the season or not, and was clear that he did not want to stay in Formula One if there was no chance to win races.
The 34-year-old has said previously that he wanted to stay at McLaren, who have been closely linked to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and are starting a new partnership with Honda, if the chance was there.
But he appeared to signal a shift on Thursday when talking to reporters at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Asked whether he would stay if McLaren asked him to, after all the uncertainty, the Briton said: “That is a good question that I cannot answer at this moment in time.
“When you are put in a position that many drivers have been in over the years, not sure if your contract is going to be renewed, it opens your eyes to different challenges and different possibilities.
“Whether it’s racing, whether it’s doing another sport, or something different altogether, for me I am excited about the challenges ahead. I have a lot that I am excited about, a lot of different ideas, whether it is for next year or the year after.”
Button, who won his 2009 title at Interlagos, is the most experienced driver on the grid and has won 16 races since his debut in 2000 with Williams.
Whatever happened, he said he was not about to retire or disappear from motor sport.
“This is a massive part of my life, Formula One, and motor racing has been –- and it is not going to stop. It will continue,” he said.
“I don’t know where that is going to be right now. But I never feel like I am being pushed out of the sport because I am definitely going to be in the sport in some shape or form. And it’s going to be a massive challenge and it’s very exciting.”
Button said he would relish the task of being Alonso’s team mate, just as he had when up against Lewis Hamilton at McLaren from 2010 to 2012.
McLaren have not won a race since the last battle of their partnership of champions, with Button triumphant in Brazil at the end of 2012. Alonso was second in that race.
“That’s what I miss more than anything else right now, that fighting for the win, that is probably the most difficult thing at this moment in time, that we cannot challenge for wins,” said Button.
“If I am in Formula One next year I have got to be winning. That’s what I am here to do and the last two years have not been like that.
“The first three years with McLaren were amazing, challenging for wins. We didn’t quite win the championship but it was a mega challenge. The last two years have been tough, next year if I am in Formula One I want to be winning races.”
Button said age was not a factor, he was as fit as he has ever been and still loved racing.
“I am still a racing driver who has won a world championship and wants to go and achieve a lot more in motor sport,” he said.
“So I’ll probably have a couple of drinks if it (Abu Dhabi) is my last race in Formula One, with friends and family, but I don’t feel I have to have a big thing made of my career because my career’s not over, whichever way it goes.”
Hamilton and Alonso hope Button stays in F1SAO PAULO (Reuters): Lewis Hamilton says McLaren would be making a mistake to ditch his former team mate Jenson Button at the end of the Formula One season and should focus instead on building a better car. “He’s still got plenty of time in his capability as a driver to keep racing and winning,” the Mercedes driver told reporters at the Brazilian Grand Prix. “He just needs to be given a better car. It’s not the team need a better driver. There are not many out there. They need a better car,” added the championship leader. McLaren have not won a race since Button’s last victory in Brazil two years ago and are believed to be close to signing Fernando Alonso from Ferrari for 2015, when they start a new partnership with Honda. The Spaniard’s arrival is likely to signal the end of 2009 champion Button’s Formula One career, although Alonso was also supportive of the Briton. “He’s a very talented driver, we’ve seen that throughout his career, and also he’s a very nice person,” the Ferrari driver told reporters at Interlagos. “We need people like him in F1. I hope he will be here next year,” added the Spaniard, who also replaced Button at Renault in 2003. Hamilton, who left McLaren for Mercedes at the end of 2012 after three years with Button as a team mate, agreed it would be strange to be left as Britain’s sole representative on the starting grid. “It is (odd) when Jenson is better than most of the drivers. He’s a great driver. He’s had an amazing career, and he’s still one of the strongest drivers here, so it doesn’t correlate,” said the 29-year-old. “If I had a team, I would want him in it. He’s a great asset for any team. He’s also just a decent guy. I hope it’s not the case.” Hamilton and double world champion Alonso were fractious team mates at McLaren in 2007, the Briton’s debut season, with the Spaniard leaving after just one year following a falling out with team boss Ron Dennis. The two drivers get on well now with mutual respect for each other’s talents. Hamilton’s relationship with Button was much better, however, with the older Briton pushing him hard throughout their time together and finishing ahead of him in the 2011 championship. “I loved the three years I spent with Lewis,” Button said on Thursday. |
