ABU DHABI // Fortunately, there are not too many jobs in the world where you can arrive at the office – on a Sunday no less – and be uncertain whether you will leave involuntarily redundant or with a highly lucrative contract extension.
At this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Jenson Button is in a special situation. The 2009 world champion is approaching the end of his 15th season, yet remains unsure whether his team, McLaren-Mercedes, will opt to retain his services or tell him he's no longer a Formula One driver.
Fernando Alonso, who confirmed his departure from Ferrari on Thursday, is expected to join the team next month.
Button is experienced enough to know motorsport is as disloyal as it is unforgiving.
He has explored opportunities in different racing series and Mark Webber, the former Red Bull Racing driver, has not hidden his enthusiasm for the British driver to join him in sports car racing. “Matey, just sign that sports car contract and get on with it,” the Australian tweeted last week.
Button, when asked about his future, said: “When you’re in F1 for so many years, you have blinkers on in terms of anything else apart from F1. This is the best sport in the world, this is your life, this is everything. But when you are put in an uncomfortable situation, obviously your eyes are opened to other possibilities – and there are a lot of challenges out there.”
The Briton, 34, has started 265 grands prix, yet while Sunday’s race at Yas Marina may be his last, he said his performance on Sunday will be irrelevant to any decision.
“I would hope that a result this weekend would not change my fate,” he said. “I feel I bring a lot more to a team than just one race and hope my career would speak a lot louder.”
Force India
Sergio Perez is confident he will remain on the F1 grid in 2015 with Force India.
The Mexican, who is 12th in this season’s drivers’ standings with 47 points, has yet to be confirmed by Vijay Mallya’s team despite the fact that teammate Nico Hulkenberg has already signed a new deal with the English-based marque.
But Perez, who joined Force India from McLaren-Mercedes for 2014, said yesterday he believed it was a case of when a new contract will be confirmed rather than if.
“It is a contract so it is difficult to give too much detail on that but all I can say is that we move forward and I hope very soon we can do an announcement and share my plans,” he said.
Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen will become the youngest driver in Formula One when he drives for Toro Rosso next season at the age of 17, and the Dutchman will continue his preparations for 2015 next week at the post-season two-day F1 test in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen was in the paddock on Thursday as preparations continued for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but he said he was not feeling nervous about his impending rise to the top echelon of motorsport.
“I never feel any pressure really, I just do what I have to do,” the teenager said.
Verstappen is not taking part in today’s opening practice session, something that team’s are allowed to do under F1 rules where they can replace one of their race drivers for just that period, before the race driver takes back his seat for the rest of the weekend. Verstappen has driven previously in practice sessions in Japan, the United States and Brazil.
Sauber
Esteban Gutierrez will race for the last time for Sauber on Sunday in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but the Mexican is optimistic he still has a future in F1.
The Swiss team announced earlier this month that they would be running Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr, who is second in the GP2 championship, for 2015, leaving both Gutierrez and his teammate Adrian Sutil without a race seat.
But Gutierrez, 23, said he was in talks with other teams, but acknowledged it may not be for a drive for next year.
“I have two or three options here, so I’m in a position to very soon choose a direction where I want to go”, he said Thursday in the Yas Marina Circuit paddock.
“I hope that I can share those with you soon, we’re working on it, but I can be quite sure that you will see me around here next year. I’m looking for being a reserve test driver in a good team, in a top team and, you know, with a plan for the future.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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