Lewis Hamilton hopes Jenson Button stays in F1 in 2017
"He's definitely not gone past his sell-by-date," says Hamilton
Saturday 3 September 2016 17:00, UK
Lewis Hamilton hopes Jenson Button does not retire from F1 at the end of the season.
The now-yearly saga over 36-year-old Button's future with McLaren has taken centre stage at Monza with the team set to open talks over their 2017 line-up at this weekend's Italian GP.
Button said on Thursday his plans for next season were "progressing well" but remained tight-lipped when asked whether he had already made his mind up about what he wanted to do.
Hamilton, Button's team-mate at McLaren from 2010 until 2012, for one believes his compatriot still has plenty to offer F1.
"His dad powered me to my first British championship. I've seen Jenson get to Formula 1, [been] inspired by his move and the way he drove," Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I've been team-mate with him, seen him win the world championship, and I hope he continues as I still feel he's very fit and at his best.
"He's definitely not gone past his sell-by-date."
Most paddock insiders believe Button is unlikely to be retained by McLaren, with the team instead poised to promote protégé Stoffel Vandoorne to the seat alongside Fernando Alonso.
Potential alternative drives could exist at two of Button's former teams, Williams and Renault, but the competitiveness of both heading into 2017 remains uncertain and the former champion has made clear he wants to contend for podiums and wins again.
Speaking at Monza, Button expressed his satisfaction with his performances this year.
"I'm definitely driving as well as ever," he told SSNHQ. "I come out of Spa very annoyed with the result, but in terms of qualifying and what I got out of the car I'm really happy…to be fair, the whole year.
"Sometimes it hasn't quite gone my way in the race, so we've lost a lot of points, but I'm happy with the way things are. Every race I'm in a Grand Prix car I give it my all, that's always the way. I don't believe any driver gives up on his driving, and that's my aim just to give it my all every race I do."
Were Button to call time on his F1 career after November's Abu Dhabi GP, he would join Felipe Massa in leaving the sport after the Williams driver announced his retirement at Monza.
And, with other veterans of the sport approaching the end of their careers over the next two seasons, the 31-year-old Hamilton admitted: "What I notice from Felipe now is there's a few drivers ahead of me [in age], but bit by bit they're going to tail off and eventually I'm going to be the older one here and it's me next at some stage [to retire].
"So the most important thing is to enjoy every moment, every race that I get."
Don't miss the Italian GP on Sunday from 1pm, live on Sky Sports F1. Or watch the race with a NOW TV day pass for £6.99 - no contract
