10/12/2015
NEWS STORY
As the sport heads into the winter break, it is inevitable that real news is going to be thin on the ground. However, Jenson Button's admission than he seriously considered walking away from the sport can hardly be considered ‘news’ at all, for at one stage it seemed a distinct possibility.
The Briton, and teammate Fernando Alonso, for the most part did a superb job in keeping up the facade. As the grid penalties mounted and the midfield headed into the distance, both drivers did their best to keep the faith, insisting that things would improve, often appearing to need to convince themselves as much as anyone else.
From time to time however, the mask would slip, the clenched teeth behind the grin would show, as the duo were pushed almost to breaking point.
In late summer, as talk of contracts filled the air, it appeared that Button wasn't too bothered. Whilst he clearly wanted to continue racing, it was obvious he didn't want to put himself through this fortnightly ritual of anguish.
However, rather than leaving the popular Briton dangling, as in 2014, McLaren agreed a new deal whilst the season was still unfolding, keeping Button on board for a seventh season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, there were no surprises as the Briton admitted how close he came to hanging up his helmet.
"Last year I wasn't sure If I'd be racing and it wasn't my choice," he said, referring to the delay in confirming his 2015 drive until mid-December 2014. "This year it was totally my choice and there was a moment where I thought 'I am not sure I want to do this anymore and be where we are'. Obviously if we are where we are right now next year it is not going to be that enjoyable.
"I spent a lot of time with the engineers and the aerodynamicists and I spoke more with Ron in the two months when I was trying to decide what to do next year than I have in my whole time at McLaren," he admitted. "So that got me excited, that got me pumped for next year knowing that there are big improvements on the horizon, and we need them."