Yahoo Autos Jenson Button Will Race In Karts and Rallycross Next Year
McLaren-Honda driver Jenson Button is taking time away from F1 next year to focus on himself. What's he going to do in that time? Exactly what you'd do if you had a yearlong sabbatical: race go-karts and rallycross cars.
That's what the 36-year-old Briton told Sky Sports in an interview Wednesday, just days after he announced his sabbatical. He's still a reserve driver and ambassador for McLaren, so he'll still go to a few of next year's grands prix, but he repeatedly emphasizes that this is is chance to take a break from the F1 grind.
"I'll definitely do some karting in the future and probably rallycross as well," said Button. "That I'm very fond of and it's very close to my heart . . . I just feel I need a bit of time to recover after this season and live on my schedule."
For Button, next year presents both an opportunity to indulge in some of his motorsports passions, and also to spend more time with family. If he gets restless, though, McLaren hasn't shut the door on him entirely.
"If we get two thirds of the way through next year and I want to go racing, and the team still want me, I'll be racing in 2018," said Button. "It's the perfect situation. For every guy who's raced in Formula 1 for a long time, this is the dream contract they could have."
With 17 years in F1 to date, Button is entirely deserving of a break, and he's wise to take a break when McLaren doesn't look like it'll be in contention for a championship. As for 2018, it's likely Button doesn't even know if he'll return. It's definitely not the last we'll see him in a race car, though.
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