24/11/2016
NEWS STORY
Jenson Button has admitted that Abu Dhabi will be his final F1 race.
Despite the unconvincing announcement - so typically McLaren - that Jenson Button was merely taking a sabbatical from F1 in 2017 as Stoffel Vandoorne joined Fernando Alonso, speculation continued as to whether we really had seen the last of the Briton as far as F1 is concerned.
Speaking at today's official press conference in Abu Dhabi however, Button confirmed that this weekend marks his final Grand Prix appearance. And while, he is likely to return to race in other categories, the Briton appeared happy to be calling time on F1.
"I go into this weekend thinking it is going to be my last race," he said, "that is the best way to be at this moment of time.
"Beyond this, I don't want to be racing in F1, that is the whole idea," he continued. "I think of this as my last race and hopefully everyone else does.
"I am going into this race thinking it is my last, I don't want to go in thinking it isn't my last and it is my last. It's true I have a contract for 2018 but at this moment in time I am not going to be racing in 2018.
"The whole idea about having a contract is that in three months time when I have eaten myself stupid and thinking of things to do in the future, maybe I'll realise I need F1 back in my life, but in this moment of time that isn't the case, so this is my last race."
"That is how I think about it at the moment, but who knows this could change in six or eight months or one year."
Reflecting on an F1 journey that began in 2000 and saw him lift the crown in 2009, he said: "It has been a long journey since I was eight years old until now. I have been racing in motorsport, and everything before F1 was work to try to get to F1, and you get to F1 with many dreams and aspire to be something and hopefully leave sport with memories.
"That is something I do have from 17 years racing in F1, lots of memories, life-changing memories, and to walk away with the championship is a special feeling as well.
"I raced for two teams I dreamed of racing as a kid, Williams and McLaren, and when I won the championship it was with a privateer team which is very special.
"There are so many memories I can't put them all out on the table right, now. I will definitely step away from F1 happy with what I achieved and knowing my life does start now."
Check out our Thursday gallery from Abu Dhabi, here.