Jenson Button is beginning to consider life beyond Formula One. A difficult season in 2013 with McLaren has been followed with what looks to be another difficult campaign leading the 2009 world champion to give the biggest hint so far that he is looking for a new challenge once his Formula One career comes to an end.

"It's still a pretty cool job," he said in Barcelona. "The worst part is the interviews trying to explain why it's not working.

"I'll stop when I'm not enjoying it anymore and it might be because I'm driving a car that's not quick enough in the future," he added.

"Hopefully that won't be the case. Hopefully I can end on a high."

At 34-years-old the Briton is now the elder statesman of the paddock with more than 250 Grand Prix starts to his name since his career began with Williams in 2000.

In 2011 he sampled a V8 Supercar, at the time suggesting his future beyond Formula One could be in tin-top racing. It's a view that hasn't changed, even if he would like to compete in something a little less serious.

"After this I will probably go and do rallycross," he said. "I want to do something like that, taking a little motorhome or caravan with my mates and family and just hang out with other guys who are just having fun.

"I saw a quote from Jacques (Villeneuve) saying that in every other sport they are trying to make the cars slower but in rallycross they just throw everything at it, they are 600 horse power monsters."

Mat Coch