Button says only he will decide F1 future

Jun.13 - Jenson Button insists he remains in the driving seat when it comes to deciding his future in formula one.

Rumours are swirling that, after seven years with the British team, McLaren intends to replace him for 2017 with reigning GP2 champion and reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

36-year-old Button has, in turn, been linked with a move to Williams, where he began his F1 career some seventeen years ago as a teenager.

"Whatever I do it will be my decision," the Briton told Brazil's UOL in Montreal.

"I will choose my future. I have to make sure I still love the sport. Who knows what will happen but I will make the decision -- not now but in a few months," Button added.

Interestingly, he suggested that part of that decision will be about whether it is McLaren or Williams that can provide him with the better car.

"I want to be competitive," said Button. "After you win races, you win a championship, you want to keep fighting at the top.

"If I feel that I can be in a competitive position next year, I will stay in formula one," he added.

Asked if Williams will be a good move for 2017 just as the rules are changing significantly, Button answered: "It's always very difficult to judge.

"The only team I have info about is McLaren, so I have no way of knowing how competitive the other teams will be.

"I'm not thinking about it right now, I'm just enjoying every weekend and trying to get the most out of the car. I don't need to worry about anything else apart from that -- I just want to enjoy my racing."

About the author

Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

Related topics