Jenson Button might compete in Super GT by 2017

F1 News – Jenson Button says he could race in Japan’s Super GT championship in 2017, when he spends a year away from Formula 1.

The McLaren driver announced during the Italian Grand Prix weekend that he will not race in F1 in 2017, making way for Stoffel Vandoorne to partner Fernando Alonso.

Button insisted he was not retiring, however, and said returning to F1 in 2018 was a real possibility.

The 2009 world champion admitted that, while he wants to live on his own schedule next year, competing in rallycross or Super GT is possible.

“I want to spend more time with friends, family and to do other things… I love triathlons and maybe I’ll race in something else like rallycross or Super GT in Japan,” Button was quoted as saying by Reuters during a promotional event ahead of the Singapore GP.

“There are so many options and that’s why it’s exciting, because I can sort of live my life the way I want to next year. I have a contract to race with the team in 2018 if the team wants me to race and if I feel that I want to race.

“I’ve been driving in Formula 1 for 17 years, which is my whole adult life, so I want to live a year in my life that is not by [its] schedule.”

Super GT is Japan-based touring car series, where former F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen and McLaren tester Oliver Turvey are currently competing.

Category: Formula One