Jenson Button ready to offer new perspective at McLaren in 2017
"There will be areas where I can see that we will need work," says Button as he looks ahead to his year out of racing in 2017
Thursday 6 October 2016 10:58, UK
Jenson Button believes he will be able to offer McLaren a new perspective during his sabbatical from F1 racing in 2017.
The 36-year-old will not be on the grid for the first time in 18 years next season, but has signed a two-year contract to stay on at the team in an ambassadorial role - a deal which includes the option to return to a race seat in 2018 if one is available.
Although Button says he will only attend "a few" of next season's expected 21 races, he reckons he can help McLaren to progress in a new way.
"I won't be developing the car as I won't be driving in it, my involvement will be more helping the team develop as a whole," he said.
"I have a lot of experience of working with different teams from a driver's point of view, but when you step back and you have a look at the team there will be areas where I can see that we will need work. I can help with that from my experience in this sport.
"When you're driving you're focused on your driving, you can't focus on anything else. Formula 1 takes over your life and it's all about the development of the car and working with your engineers, but you don't look at the bigger picture."
When's the Japanese GP on Sky?
Button was speaking at the Japanese GP, the home race of McLaren's engine partner Honda, and an event which has always help particular affection for him.
In sharp contrast to 12 months ago, when the revived McLaren-Honda partnership was struggling to escape the back of the grid and team-mate Fernando Alonso launched a "GP2 engine" rant, the team arrive at Suzuka in increasingly competitive shape after points finishes in six of the last eight Grands Prix.
Button's long F1 career could now have as few as this season's remaining five races to run and, ahead of a Suzuka race he won impressively in 2011, the former champion is targeting ending the campaign on a high.
"This is always a fun race, we all love driving here," he said. "You want to see out the year in a good way and to enjoy yourself doing it as well. As a team we've been scoring some good points so hopefully we can continue until the end of the year."
The F1 title run-in continues with the Japanese GP, live only on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. The race begins at 6am on Sunday. Watch the whole race weekend with a NOW TV week pass - £10.99, no contract
