The 34-year-old, the most experienced and second oldest driver in Formula One,
also said last night here that he had no intention of slowing down and
leaving the sport anytime soon.
Button is in his 15th season in Formula One, and entering the final year of
his McLaren contract, but he said he believes he still has what it takes to
compete at the top of the sport.
“I’ve had a great career, but for me it’s definitely not near the end,” he
said. “I’m not ready to wind people. People have said: ‘Ah, he’s
34-year-old, end of your contract this year, what are you going to do at the
end of this year?’ It’s going to be the same as any other year. I’m not
going to take it easy, I’m not going to push harder than before.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a contract – if a team don’t think you’re
doing a good enough job then they’ll get rid of you, and if you’re doing a
great job they’ll want you for 10 years more.
“Nothing has changed, and it never does in this sport. Age doesn’t make a
difference. If you’ve still got the speed, as Ron [Dennis] always said, it
doesn’t matter. In a way it’s better going through good and bad, working
with the engineers, and understanding what you need from the team to win
races.”
Asked if he would consider dropping down to a smaller team if he lost his
place at McLaren, where, Button said: “It’s not something I’ve thought about
ever in my career. I’m here at McLaren and that’s where I’m happy to be. I’m
not going to get worried either way.”
The Briton is partnered by 21-year-old rookie Kevin Magnussen for this season.
Early indications are that they lack the pace of the Mercedes, who started
this morning’s race on pole through Lewis Hamilton, but the team seem
relaxed about their ability to claw back ground.