Breaking news
Formula 1
Button: Alonso isn't bluffing about F1 return plan
Fernando Alonso will “definitely” make a Formula 1 comeback if McLaren returns to the front in grand prix racing soon, former teammate Jenson Button believes.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Aug 18, 2018, 10:32 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alonso, who rejoined McLaren for a second stint in 2014 but has been unable to add to his 32 F1 wins and 97 podiums since, announced earlier this week that he would be stepping away from the series at the end of the year.
The 37-year-old left the door open for a return to F1, stating: “I know they [McLaren] will come back stronger in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series”.
Button left F1 in similar circumstances two years prior, and while he did make a one-off appearance replacing Alonso in Monaco last year, he has not pursued a full-on comeback.
But the Briton is convinced Alonso would jump at the opportunity to be back in F1 if he can land a competitive seat.
“It's always down to the individual when they choose to leave Formula 1,” Button said.
“He [Alonso] has done the same thing as what I chose to do - leave but leave it open, for one year after, to go back. I think that's the right option to do.
“And if the McLaren's quick and it's winning races, he'll be back to Formula 1, definitely.
“Every driver in the world would love to be in a winning car in Formula 1. You retire, I think, because you get bored of the travel and the stress of it, and if your results aren't there, there's no reason to be there.
“If the car is quick, I'm sure he'd want to jump back in in 2020.”
#11 SMP Racing BR Engineering BR1: Jenson Button
Photo by: JEP / LAT Images
Alonso claimed that his decision was spurred on by “very poor” track action in F1 and not McLaren's middling results.
Button, who is racing alongside the Spaniard in the World Endurance Championship this year, said the complete dominance of Alonso's Toyota team in WEC put that line of reasoning into question.
“I think his comments were maybe not the best, in terms of 'the racing is more boring'. I mean, he's racing in WEC, and the only competition is his teammate here, you know what I mean?
“I don't think you can really say that, but I understand where he is. If he's racing for a win, he's going to enjoy it a lot more, and you do, but when you've won multiple world championships like him, and you're fighting in the midfield, it does get boring after a while.”
Reflecting on Alonso's F1 career, Button described him as his “toughest teammate” - having previously stated that Alonso had been a “bigger challenge” than fellow champion and former McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton.
“He's been exceptional, to win two world championships and be so close a couple of other times, there aren't many people who get to do that,” Button said.
“My toughest teammate, really enjoyed it though.
“My late father [John] always respected Fernando, and that's always a good judge of character, and Fernando used to get on very well with my father as well.”
Additional reporting by Jamie Klein
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Grosjean: Ferrari hope never a factor in Haas move
Next article Kubica: Difficult car changed my role at Williams
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Jenson Button
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Formula 1
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
More from
McLaren
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
19 h
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Latest news
Why Jorge Martín was not penalised for jump start in Indonesia
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
34 min
Why Jorge Martín was not penalised for jump start in Indonesia
Palou pushes IndyCar’s IR-28 chassis to the limit in rugged Sebring test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 44 min
Palou pushes IndyCar’s IR-28 chassis to the limit in rugged Sebring test
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Christian Horner clears air on “dream job” Ferrari rumours and sets return terms
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Christian Horner clears air on “dream job” Ferrari rumours and sets return terms
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe