Autosportfoto

F1 Italian GP: Button: My future is progressing well…

Jenson Button has refused to comment on whether he will remain with McLaren or move to Williams after the news of Felipe Massa's retirement at the end of the season as speculation grows stronger about the British driver's 2017 plans.

After Massa confirmed 2016 would mark his final season in F1 as he prepares to retire from the sport, Button and his fellow drivers paid tribute to the Brazilian in the drivers' press conference.

Button, who has been linked with a potential move from McLaren to Williams, waved away the question on whether Massa's retirement has cleared the path for the switch but did say he is happy with the current progress of his contract negotiations.

"That [contract negotiation] is progressing well as well, progress is the name of the game and it is good," Button said. "I would love to make this really exciting...but I have nothing else to say on my future or what I am doing next year I am sorry to say."

Button has competed in every campaign of Massa's 14-season F1 career and despite never being team-mates with the Brazilian the pair have a strong relationship and says his decision to call time on his F1 career 'brave but the right one'.

"I've race with Felipe since he started in F1, so about 15 years we've been racing together," Button said. "It is always a strange feeling when someone retires from the sport who has achieved so much and has so many victories plus being so close to an F1 world championship.

"We all have our own reasons for retiring. I think it is a brave decision but he has chosen to retire so it is obviously the right one." 

Zdroj: crash.net