04 September,2016 09:30 AM IST | | AFP
Jenson Button has announced he will not be racing in Formula One next season. The 36-year-old, who has participated in every season since 2000, will take a year out of the sport next term and will be replaced by McLaren’s highly-rated reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
Jenson Button
Jenson Button
Monza: Jenson Button has announced he will not be racing in Formula One next season. The 36-year-old, who has participated in every season since 2000, will take a year out of the sport next term and will be replaced by McLaren's highly-rated reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
McLaren have an option on Button for him to compete for the race team in 2018.
Button, the 2009 world champion, made the announcement flanked by McLaren chairman Ron Dennis in the team's motorhome on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix.
"I can tell you now that I do have a two-year contract starting next year with McLaren-Honda, and next year I will be an ambassador for this team," Button said.
"I will work with this team in every way I can to make it a better team for the future. I will train my a''' off like you have never seen before and I will also do a lot of races to make sure everything is on track. I'll do a lot of stuff that I haven't done for 17 years. I will spend more time with my friends and more importantly with my family members who I haven't seen properly in 17 years.
