Button: Alonso could return to F1

Fernando Alonso’s former team mate and rival Jenson Button has backed the Spaniard’s decision to retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

The two raced together for McLaren in 2015 and 2016 and battled each other in plenty of races over their long careers.

Alonso actually replaced Jenson Button at Renault in 2003 and went on to win two world titles with the team.

However, there is no bad blood between the two, who struck up a good friendship during their time at McLaren, as we saw when Button replaced Alonso for the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, telling the Spaniard he was going to “pee in your seat”.

Button retired at the end of 2016, but didn’t rule out a return to F1, the same as Alonso has done and the 2009 world champion is behind this decision.

“I said to him he’s finally made the right decision. He’s woken up and smelled the coffee, as we say,” Button said ahead of the WEC race at Silverstone.

“It’s always down to the individual when they choose to leave Formula 1. He’s done the same thing as what I chose to do, leave but leave it open for one year after to go back.”

Button believes that if McLaren produce a quick car for 2010, Alonso could easily return to the team.

“I think that’s the right option to do. But if the McLaren’s quick and it’s winning races, he’ll be back in Formula 1,” he added.

The two will race against each other once again today in the 6-hour Silverstone endurance race, with Alonso’s Toyota starting second, one place ahead of Button’s SMP Racing car in third.