ABU DHABI // The 2017 season is being regarded as a sabbatical from Formula One for Jenson Button, but the Briton has said he is mentally treating Sunday’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as his last race.
Button announced in September that he would stand down from the McLaren team for next season, after seven years of service, with 2015 GP2 champion Stoffel Vandoorne replacing him to partner Fernando Alonso.
“I go into this weekend thinking it’s going to be my last race,” said the 2009 world champion, who confirmed he has a contract with the British team for the 2018 season.
“At this moment in time I don’t want to be racing in Formula One past this race, that’s the whole idea.
“I think of this as my last race, and hopefully everybody else does as well.”
More on Jenson Button:
• The best five races of his Formula One career
• Exclusive interview with Stoffel Vandoorne
• The National's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix microsite
Button, who made his debut in F1 in 2000, previously appeared more enthusiastic about the likelihood of making a return to the sport.
“Nothing has changed,” he said as he explained his thought process. “I’m just going into it thinking that it’s my last, as I don’t want to go into it thinking it’s not my last and it is my last.
“It is true that I have a contract for 2018, but at this moment I’m not going to be racing in 2018.
“The whole idea of the contract was that, in three months’ time, when I’ve eaten myself stupid, and I’m thinking of things to do in the future, I may feel that I need Formula One back in my life.
“At this moment in time that isn’t the case. This is my last race, and that’s the way I’m thinking about it, but who knows, that could change in six months, eight months, one year.”
Button, who will be starting his 305th grand prix on Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit, has won 15 races, claimed eight pole positions and been on the podium 50 times during his career.
But it was winning the world title in 2009 with Brawn-GP that, unsurprisingly, gave him the most satisfaction.
“It has been a long journey — from eight years old until now I have been racing in motorsport,” he said. “Everything before F1 was work to try to get to F1, and you get to F1 with many dreams and aspire to be something.
“I raced for two teams I dreamed of racing for as a kid, Williams and McLaren, and when I won the championship it was with a privateer team, which is very special.
“There are so many memories I can’t put them all out on the table right now.
“I will definitely step away from F1 happy with what I achieved and knowing my life does start now.”
Button has finished on the podium three times in Abu Dhabi, taking third place in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
But he and McLaren will not expect to match that result this weekend, with his best result this season sixth place at the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport