Button tells Sky Sports News HQ "wins are going to be tough" for McLaren next season, but believes occasional podiums not out of the question for 2016
Tuesday 27 October 2015 17:25, UK
Jenson Button has ruled out victories for McLaren in 2016 but hopes to stay in F1 for another title bid in 2017.
The first year of McLaren's reunion with engine suppliers Honda has proved unexpectedly disastrous with the eight-time constructors' champions enduring their worst run of results since 1980.
But despite those year-long struggles for the team, the 35-year-old Button has opted to stay on into 2016 when he anticipates rapid progress from Honda's power unit.
The veteran isn't expecting victories next year but hopes to challenge for a second world championship in 2017.
"Podiums have to be the aim next year, I think we will be disappointed if we are not fighting for podiums now and again through the season," Button told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Hopefully next year will be a year when people can challenge Mercedes and that is what Lewis [Hamilton] wants as well. It is nice winning an intra-team battle and winning the World Championship, but having another team to fight against is what everyone wants to see and I think Lewis does as well.
"I'm not sure that team will be us, we will do our best and we will see what we have at the first race, but in 2017 hopefully that will be us fighting at the front with two or three different teams."
McLaren's travails - they have now gone 53 races and nearly three seasons without a win - are in stark contrast to those of their former partners Mercedes, who have triumphed 31 times in that same period. McLaren's former driver Hamilton, meanwhile, is on the verge of back-to-back drivers' titles.
McLaren would have to make a huge jump from ninth in the standings to return to fight at the front and Button concedes that "wins are going to be tough" for the team in 2016.
"Just being in the mix, being in the mix at the start of the season and knowing that when you make improvements it might lift you up above another team. Whereas now when you make an improvement, we are so far back when you make improvements you just get a little bit closer," he said ahead of this weekend's United States GP.
"But being in the mix fighting is where we want to be and that is what we are excited about doing. There is a long hard winter ahead, but there is a lot of excitement in the team. I spent a lot of time in the factory with the aerodynamicists and you can see that there is a lot of progress being made."
If McLaren are going to have to wait at least another 18 months before they are winning races again, then there is no guarantee Button will still be driving for them giving he is out of contract at the end of next season.,
Already the most experienced driver in the field, Button will turn 37 before the start of the 2017 campaign - however, with a radical revamp of car design on the horizon, he is not ruling out continuing into F1's new era.
"If I'm loving the sport still and I can see there is a good future I'd love to [stay on]," he admitted.
"This is Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, it has been my life for so long and if I can see a good chance of course I want to stay. 2017 I think is very exciting for the sport. I think we are going to be five, six, seven seconds quicker than we are now and that is hopefully going to be through mechanical grip. The cars are going to look better, sound better and that is all because of the fans. Hopefully we will see some really good racing.
"Next year is still a year we want to do well. I go into next year wanting to score some really good points, podiums and then we will see what happens during the year. We have to be positive and there is a lot of excitement within this team and hopefully for our fans we can repay you for all the support we have had over this difficult time."
