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Joy of racing no more for veteran Button

Rumours about former world champion’s exit continue to swirl.

Afp September 24, 2015

Button could bring the curtain down on a 16-year career which has brought him a world title and 15 victories in 278 races. PHOTO: REUTERS

SUZUKA: Britain’s Jenson Button said on Thursday that his sense of joy had disappeared from Formula One amid rumours the former world champion is set to retire from the sport.

Refusing to be drawn on the speculation that he had failed to secure a contract extension with underperforming McLaren, Button told reporters in Japan: “I don’t like finishing 14th, I don’t like finishing 10th. That’s not what excites me.”

The 35-year-old, who captured the world title in 2009, has endured a hugely frustrating season because of his car’s unreliable Honda engine, and was forced to retire in Singapore last weekend.

“I don’t think any driver has joy when they’re not fighting for victories,” said Button before this week’s race in Suzuka. “That’s what we’re here for, that’s what we love — the challenge of fighting at the front.”

With McLaren in crisis, talks with team boss Ron Dennis have not progressed as hoped, raising the possibility Button could bring the curtain down on a 16-year career which has brought him a world title with Brawn and 15 victories in 278 races.

Flanked by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, fresh from his victory in Singapore, Button was hoping for better fortunes in an emotional Japanese race a year after a horror crash suffered by Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who later died from his injuries.

“We’re here to concentrate on this weekend,” said Button, who won at Suzuka in 2011. “It’s a big weekend for us in front of Honda’s home crowd, at their circuit.”

When Vettel was asked, somewhat awkwardly, to sum up Button’s career, the German waxed lyrical about his rival, saying he would be missed if decided not to return next year.

“It would be a big loss,” the four-time champion said. “He is a big character. We know he is quick. He deserves to be a champion. I’m sure if there were more years when he had the package to win he would have had a big say in [the sport].”

Vettel’s comments prompted a cheesy grin from the Briton. “Thanks mate,” joked Button. “I’ll start crying in a minute, it’s so emotional.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2015.

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