According to former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen, Jenson Button had been told that his services would not be required for the 2015 season, and the British driver was all set to retire.
Speaking to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, Magnussen recounted how McLaren management had told him that he had been chosen to partner Fernando Alonso in 2015, but the Woking outfit changed its stance on the back of Button's impressive end-of-season form.
"I was told that it was my seat, that I didn't need to worry," remembers the Dane.
"Jenson had his two best races at the end of the season. He did really well. But he had also hung photos of his entire career in his room. He had a helmet ready to go that said 'good-bye' on it.
"He was driving only to have fun and enjoy his last two races without stress or pressure, believing 100 per cent that he was done in F1."
In spite of McLaren's change in sentiment, which eventually led to Magnussen's departure from F1, the Dane has no hard feelings against Button whom he respects immensely.
"Jenson is a good bloke and there's nothing bad between us," he concluded. "We are in the same sport and competing for the same seats. There is full respect.
"I know why he got the seat and there's nothing between him and me at all."
2015 F1 season: F1i's drivers review 10-1
