Breaking news
Formula 1
Button "not very interested" in Monaco F1 return - Webber
Mark Webber believes Jenson Button is "not very interested" in his one-off return to Formula 1 at Monaco, where the Briton will stand in for Fernando Alonso at McLaren.
Jamie Klein
Edited: May 9, 2017, 9:47 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Following Alonso's decision to skip the Monaco Grand Prix to race a McLaren-Honda-Andretti entry in the Indianapolis 500, the Woking-based team called up its third driver Button to fill in for the Spaniard.
However, Button has yet to drive the MCL32, and turned down the chance to get miles under his belt during Bahrain in-season testing last month – meaning first practice at Monaco will be his very first taste of the new-for-2017 F1 rules package.
Speaking at Spa, Webber dismissed Button's comeback as a "non-story", highlighting the fact he chose not to take part in the Bahrain test as evidence that the 2009 champion isn't fully committed.
"It's a non-story, Jenson at Monaco," said Webber. "He goes out, has fuel pressure problems in FP1, qualifies 17th, retires on lap 12 of the race. Whatever, who cares?
"Jenson didn't do any testing in Bahrain, he doesn't take it so seriously – 'I want to stay in America and do my triathlon, I'm not bothered about the Bahrain test' – which for me was a surprise.
"For Jenson the first session in Monaco will be wakey-wakey. I don't think he's very interested."
"I don't think he would have been first on the phone [about replacing Alonso]."
"Fernando is running McLaren"
Webber also observed that, in its present uncompetitive state, it's Alonso who is effectively "running" McLaren – a scenario he feels will benefit the two-time champion's teammate Stoffel Vandoorne.
"I like Stoffel a lot, he's got his head screwed on," said Webber of Vandoorne. "He sees the big picture quite nicely for his age, he has a very good career in front of him.
"This is a good learning [process] for him in this car, with Fernando in the other garage. Fernando is running the team at the moment, he's running McLaren.
"Fernando is colossal, mercurial. So for Stoffel, it's good learning."
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 Tech analysis: The F1 development battle you may have missed
Next article Bottas: Tyres won't dominate F1 title battle for long
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
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
McLaren retains Leonardo Fornaroli in F1 as Italian adds WEC programme for 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1 2 h
McLaren retains Leonardo Fornaroli in F1 as Italian adds WEC programme for 2027
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Latest news
Why Alex Marquez hasn't been able to replicate his 2025 MotoGP form
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 35 min
Why Alex Marquez hasn't been able to replicate his 2025 MotoGP form
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 1 h
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Daniel Juncadella says he “f***ed” up as Genesis goes from first to last in Barcelona WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
2 h
Daniel Juncadella says he “f***ed” up as Genesis goes from first to last in Barcelona WEC
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