Did Jenson Button Just Retire From F1?

A major shift in the 2017 Formula 1 driver market has just been confirmed. Jenson Button won’t race in F1 next year, taking on roles as an ambassador and reserve driver for McLaren, but he could return to the F1 grid in 2018.

Confused? We are a bit too. Basically, young star Stoffel Vandoorne will partner Fernando Alonso in 2017 at McLaren. Button is effectively taking a sabbatical year and having a break from F1, but will still work closely with the team in a development role. He’s not doing a ‘Felipe Massa’ and completely retiring.

The 2009 world champion’s new two-year contract with McLaren includes an option to race in 2018, but that would probably only happen if Alonso decided to retire or go elsewhere. So it’s a sabbatical year for now, but the 2016 Abu Dhabi GP could still be his final race.

McLaren has described this unusual decision an “innovative three-driver strategy” for 2017 and 2018, with Button jumping in if needed next year and the same three drivers in the mix for a 2018 seat. Button’s return could also depend on how well Vandoorne does too.

Vandoorne won the GP2 championship last year after a dominant season. But with no space on the grid in 2016 he has been forced to keep his racing skills sharp in the Japanese Super Formula series.

However, he did make his F1 debut this year for McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix, subbing for the injured Alonso. He impressed and finished 10th to score a point in his first F1 start. So he’s highly rated and is expected to do great things.

Drastic new F1 regulations will come into force in 2017, with major changes to the aero rules and technical regulations. The new sheet of paper presents McLaren with a great chance to claw back ground after a tough two years, with its Honda power unit now finally looking competitive.

So, Button won’t be on the grid in 2017. But he hasn’t ‘fully’ retired from F1 just yet (unless 2018 doesn’t work out). This is his 17th F1 season and his seventh with McLaren, having moved to the team in 2010 after his title success with Brawn GP the previous year.

Here’s what he has to say on the announcement:

“I’m delighted that I’ll be staying on as a key member of the McLaren-Honda team. In fact I’m massively excited about my new role, which has come about as a result of a number of in-depth chats with Ron [Dennis].

“I love McLaren-Honda – I firmly believe it’s made up of the best bunch of people I’ve ever worked with – and I have no intention of ever driving for another Formula 1 team. To be clear, I’m very definitely not retiring. I’m contracted for both 2017 and 2018, I intend to work hard on car-development, and I’m sure I’ll get behind the wheel of the new car at some point.”

Thanks for all the good times, Jenson. Perhaps we’ll see you back racing in F1 in 2018?