Jenson Button has revealed he intends to return to full-time racing in 2018, as he competed in his first Super GT race with Honda at the Suzuka 1000km race this past weekend.
The 2009 Formula 1 world champion left the grid at the end of last year for what was considered a sabbatical as the Briton took up an ambassadorial role with McLaren and potentially a deal to re-join next year if Fernando Alonso left.
The 37-year-old would then replace the Spaniard for the Monaco Grand Prix back in May, as he competed in the Indianapolis 500, and current speculation seems to drift further towards Alonso not renewing with the British team for next year, however, in Monte Carlo Button appeared to make it clear that would be his last race in F1.
Indeed, when considering what he’ll be doing next year, a potential McLaren return seemed a long way down the list of options.
“I will be definitely doing something next year for a full season,” he told Motorsport.com. “Whether it’s here or in America or somewhere else, I don’t know yet but the discussions are underway.
“We’ll see how this weekend (at Suzuka) goes. If it goes well and if I enjoy the weekend, which I think I will, then maybe I could be racing here next year.”
After qualifying ninth, Button run as high as third before punctures and penalties intervened and dropped him and his team to an eventual finish of 12th.
“Through the corners, it feels like a Formula 1 car, which is pretty spectacular,” he said talking about the performance of the Honda NSX-GT he drove.
“The cars are great to drive. They are fast, here’s a lot of downforce and you can carry a lot of speed through the corners. Lots to learn. But I’ve always looked forward to a new challenge.”