Button “may come back stronger” to F1 in 2018 – Barrichello
Former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello believes that Jenson Button could “come back stronger” if he returns to racing with McLaren in 2018.
Barrichello, who was Button’s teammate at Brawn when Jenson won the Formula 1 World Championship in 2009, believes that a season’s sabbatical in 2017 could do the Briton a world of good.
Button will take on McLaren reserve driver and ambassadorial duties next season, allowing Stoffel Vandoorne to make his fulltime debut in F1. McLaren has the option for him to return in 2018.
“I think only he can talk about it,” Barrichello told Motorsport.com. “I think when you spend a long time in Formula 1, you are very limited in your day-after-day [life], to always do the same things.
“If you want a time to get together with family you have to travel to commitments with sponsors, to travel to the factory, to the simulator, etc.
“Button reaches 300 races soon and have no doubt that it is mentally tiring. With a sabbatical year and having the chance to come back, he may come back stronger.”
Shock at Massa’s retirement decision
Barrichello also spoke about fellow Brazilian Felipe Massa’s recent decision to retire from F1.
“Massa’s retirement made me very surprised, I did not expect this kind of news,” added Barrichello. “I did not think it was time, but only the driver knows when it's time to go to do another thing.
“As I wrote on social media: ‘happiness is worth more than anything else we have in life’ – then he needs to be happy. Today, I'm happier than in my Formula 1 time.”
Barrichello now races in the Brazilian Stock Car Championship, and believes it could be somewhere that Massa will race in future seasons.
“Felipe Massa would be welcome in any situation here in Brazil,” he said. “You lose a driver to support in Formula 1, but gain him in motor racing in general.
“I do not see his name being mentioned here for next year, but I think in the future we can expect this to happen.”
Share Or Save This Story
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
Jenson Button identifies key reason behind Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari resurgence
Jenson Button gives verdict on Max Verstappen Red Bull exit: "Frustrated with the situation"
Jenson Button names key figure behind Kimi Antonelli's stunning Mercedes form
F1 2026 mid-season grades: McLaren starts on back foot but makes rapid progress
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
The subtle but significant changes McLaren will make for its 2027 F1 car
Nicki Thiim hits out at DTM and AMG: "What’s going on here is a disgrace"
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
Kaden Honeycutt earns dominant NASCAR Truck win at Richmond
Pascal Wehrlein responds to Porsche’s team tactics after dominant London win
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
Top 10 rookie seasons in F1
Why F1 shouldn’t be hiding its most interesting characters
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
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.
Top Comments