Jenson Button may trade Formula One for endurance racing

Formula One star Jenson Button has revealed he may swap the sport for some form of endurance racing, if he fails to land a competitive seat for next season.

The McLaren driver has reportedly had talks with Porsche for whom former F1 racer Marc Webber drives for. Button, who is 40/1 with Coral to win to the US Grand Prix, is only interested in staying in the sport if he can secure a car that he feels can compete for the Championship next season, according to his manager Richard Goddard, with McLaren yet to confirm their driver lineup for next season.

“McLaren aren’t sure what they’re doing and what their line-up will be,” said Goddard. “That’s pretty obvious. Anyone who has a race seat available would like to have Jenson in it.

“Jenson is still focused on F1 but would only want to be in one of the top teams. So we’re always open to talking to anyone,” he continued. “The world endurance championship is a formidable series that is gaining strength and Mark going there has added a lot to it. It is a very credible race series to compete in.

“Jenson is an incredibly competitive racing driver who wants to race. He’s too good to sit at the back of the F1 grid. So he either gets a competitive car in F1 or he goes to get one elsewhere.”

Button has only secured one podium place, this season, with that coming in Melbourne, Australia, the first race on the Formula One circuit.

The British driver has recorded pretty much double the number of points that teammate Kevin Magnussen has this season. Button has though has been left behind, however, in the title race, with former sparring partner and compatriot Lewis Hamilton challenging fellow Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. Hamilton is odds-on at 1/5 and Rosberg 7/2 to win the Drivers’ Championship.