Button retirement would be a big loss - Vettel

While Jenson Button hasn't given anything away as to whether he will remain, or not, an active Formula 1 driver in 2016, most paddock pundits believe the McLaren driver will indeed call it a day and seek elsewhere his indespensable dose of thrill and adventure.

Asked during today's FIA press conference whether Button's eventual departure from the sport would produce a void, Sebastian Vettel admitted it probably would.

"It would be a loss, for sure," said the Ferrari stalwart.

"I remember when I was a little kid and he was considered very very young, joining Formula 1. I have to give you that he looked very young when he started with Williams."

"Nowadays though, you have guys who are 17 who are starting already, so in that case he was already old when he started, or I was quite old."

Vettel said there was no questioning the status and merits of the 2009 World Champion and veteran of 278 Grand Prix starts.

"Certainly, he’s a big character. We know that he’s quick, he deserves to be a champion and I’m sure that if there were more years when he had the package to win the big one, he would have had a big say in that."

"The quality is out of doubt. On top of that he’s a very fair guy on the track. Outside the track, I think we all like him for many reasons so it would be a big loss."

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