Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Button tight-lipped over future F1 plans

Jenson Button refused to be drawn on his future F1 plans amid rumours he is set to retire from the sport.

The 2009 world champion has an option to remain with McLaren for next season which both sides would need to take up, but recent reports suggested he is set to leave F1 following such an uncompetitive season. However, when asked about his future plans at Suzuka on Thursday, Button said nothing has been finalised yet.

"I can't give you anything else really since the last race, there's no more information to give you," Button said. "So you're going to have to wait a little while I'm sorry to say. We're in good talks - the team and myself - and that's it."

Asked if his comment regarding talks with the team suggested he would still be racing for McLaren in 2016, Button replied: "There's so many possibilities of what could happen next year. So many possibilities... But I haven't got an answer for you, I'm sorry to say."

And while Button admits he isn't enjoying McLaren's current position, he says he can take motivation from the potential of an improved future.

"I don't think any driver has joy when they're not fighting for victories. That's what we're here to do. What we love is the challenge of fighting at the front and the possibility of fighting at the front. So, no, I don't like finishing 14th, I don't like finishing 10th, that's not what gives me joy and that's not what excites me.

"But there are so many other things that if they work in your favour or if you see a future there's the possibility of joy coming back and that's exciting, that's a challenge."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.