Abu Dhabi do is likely to be Button’s last hurrah

JENSON Button expects the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be his last in Formula One as he prepares to bring the curtain down on his world championship-winning career.

Button, who has competed in more than 300 races following 17 consecutive seasons in the sport, will not be on the grid next year.

His decision to stand down from McLaren — with Stoffel Vandoorne replacing Button next year — had been sold as a sabbatical. And while McLaren still have an option to bring Button back into the fold in 2018, the Briton sounded like a man who is ready to call time on his glittering career.

“I go into this weekend thinking it is going to be my last race, and I think that is the best way to be,” said Button ahead of the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit.

“At this moment in time I do not want to be racing in Formula One past this race. I think of this as my last race and, hopefully, everybody else does as well. I don’t want to go into this race and think it’s not my last, and it is.

“It is true that I have a contract for 2018 but at this moment in time I don’t want to be racing in 2018.”

Under his new ambassadorial role with McLaren, Button will still attend some of the grands prix next season as back-up to Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso but his definitive plans are unclear.

He has been earmarked as a pundit, while he stressed he is keen to take part in more triathlons. A career in rallycross, once pursued by his late father John Button, is also an option.

He added: “This is my last race and that’s the way I think about it at the moment. But who knows? That could change in six months, eight months, one year.”