It truly is the end of an era. First Felipe Massa, now Jenson Button has announced he’ll be retiring from Formula One at the end of the season.
Many had expected the Briton to move to Williams next season following Massa’s departure but the 2009 world champion instead will stay at the McLaren team as a team ambassador for the next two years.
The news came during a McLaren press conference where it was revealed that Stoffel Vandoorne will finally get the F1 seat he deserves, partnering Fernando Alonso at the team next season.
Our 2017 race driver line-up: Fernando Alonso & Stoffel Vandoorne, with Jenson working with them in his new role. pic.twitter.com/uRw0sJp8O3
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 3, 2016
But in a funny kind of ‘retirement’ Ron Dennis revealed that there’ll an option for Button to drive with McLaren in 2018, presumably if Fernando Alonso finally gets fed up and retires himself.
So goodbye Jenson, or is it goodbye? Or is it a Mika Hakkinen style sabbatical?