Jenson keeps it buttoned

McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button is all set to announce his retirement from the sport, according to various reports.

“I can’t go any further with my comments on that”. With a 22-race F1 calendar you’re going to be very limited on weekends and sometimes it’s nice to have a weekend off from motor racing, so I can’t see that happening.

Pressed during the pre-event press conference at Suzuka, a steadfast Button – who previously said he would make his decision known by the end of September – refused to give more details about his plans. So you’re going to have to wait a little while I’m sorry to say.

Pressed on what he meant by “good talks” with the team and whether the possibility of staying with the team in 2016 remained, Button replied: “There’s so many possibilities as to what could happen next year, so many possibilities. After the Singapore Grand Prix I wasn’t joyful”.

“We’re here to concentrate on this weekend”, said Button, who won at Suzuka in 2011 and is married to Japanese lingerie model Jessica Michibata.

“I don’t like finishing 14th, I don’t like finishing 10th”. That is not what excites me.

Button has been linked with a World Endurance Championship drive for several seasons. They are doing everything they can.

Surer, however, says McLaren’s struggle is a different matter for Button’s teammate, the two-time champion and former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso.

“He’s a big character, we know he is quick and he deserves to be a champion”, said Vettel. He has qualities outside the track. “It’s just a reminder that we need to work harder than ever because we lack performance plus reliability, so these two things combined is a lot of work to do and we want to do that”. The return of Honda this season as engine supplier was supposed to herald a new dawn, but it has proved to be an unmitigated disaster.