Jenson Button to retire from Formula One at the end of the 2016 season world championship season

JENSON BUTTON has announced he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

The former world champion has decided to quit the sport later this year and will take up a role as ambassador for McLaren F1.

Button’s race seat has been taken by highly-rated young Belgian driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

His decision comes just two days after another Grand Prix veteran Felipe Massa revealed he too would be ending his career.

McLaren announced their 2017 driver line-up at monza this afternoon, claiming it to be an ‘innovative three driver strategy’.

In reality, the British team had no choice but to promote 24-year-old Vandoorne next season or risk losing him to another outfit as he grew increasingly frustrated at a lack of a drive.

Button has extended his agreement with McLaren to include the 2018 season, but from now on his role will be in an advisory capacity.

McLaren executive chairman Ron Dennis said: “McLaren-Honda’s race driver line-up next season will be Fernando and Stoffel – a perfectly balanced mix of proven brilliance and immense potential.

“But, before I speak on the subject of either of them, I want to talk about Jenson. As a race driver for our team these past seven seasons, he’s been superb, both on and off the track.

“And, as we’re seeing this season, he remains superb – not only fast and fit but also experienced and expert. He’ll start his 298th Grand Prix tomorrow; as such, he’s the most experienced driver on the grid.

“Having extended his contract to include 2017 and 2018, he’ll continue to be a senior, influential and committed member of the team, and will remain centrally involved in the development of our cars. He’ll also be available to race for us if circumstances require it.

“On behalf of all at McLaren-Honda, I want to say how thrilled we are that Jenson has extended his contractual relationship with us. Moreover, I’m absolutely certain that the depth of his experience and the currency of his expertise will give us an advantage over our opposition next season.

“As for Fernando, 2017 will be his third year as a McLaren-Honda race driver, and I need hardly reaffirm his credentials here. So let me simply restate my belief that he’s one of the finest and fastest Grand Prix drivers I’ve ever seen, and we’re very proud to have him in the team.

“He’s been both diligent and patient over the past two seasons, and he shares with all of us at McLaren-Honda the confidence that 2017 will be the season in which our partnership begins to deliver strong results.

“Stoffel has been a member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme since February 2013, and was appointed our Test and Development Driver 11 months later.

“Over the past two-and-a-half years he’s made a very valuable contribution in that role, learning from his two World Champion team-mates as well as from our many world-class engineers, and, having been runner-up in World Series by Renault in 2013 and the run-away winner of the GP2 Championship last year, he’s now completed with distinction a meticulously designed apprenticeship.

“He’s consequently now ready to race in Formula 1, as his fine Grand Prix debut in Bahrain this year proved.”

Button, who won the world title racing for Brawn Gp in 2009, is preparing to take part in the Italian Grand Prix tomorrow where he will start in 14th on the grid after another difficult qualifying session.