Button: Alonso 'made the right decision' to leave F1 in 2019

Gathered on the Silverstone track (Great Britain) as part of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) this week-end, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso spoke about the Spaniard's departure from the world of Formula 1 in 2019.

The SMP Racing driver in LM P1 Non-hybrid told reporters that the double world champion “finally made the right decision”. “He realized he was going the wrong way and he woke up. It is always up to the pilot to choose when to leave the F1. He does the same thing as me, step aside for a year while leaving the door open for a return. »

“I know exactly Fernando’s strengths and weaknesses. He was the toughest teammate of my career, I really loved this period, recalls Jenson Button. His career has been exceptional, winning two titles and finishing very close on other occasions is not given to everyone. »

Jenson Button had disputed his last full season in F1 for McLaren in 2016, then replaced… Fernando Alonso at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix while the Spaniard competed in the 500 Miles of Indianapolis (Indiana). The luxury freelancer had warned that he was going to “pee in his seat” before departure!

The two men were teammates for two years, in 2015 and 2016 in a stable McLaren then in great difficulty. The repeated breakdowns of the Honda turbo engine did not prevent them from having fun, like during testing for the 2015 Brazilian Grand Prix, where despite their elimination in Q1, they posed on the podium!

VIDEO: Mclaren's Podium! #Button #Alonso #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/eqSWzF6zjz via @Gianlu_DAle

- F1Writers ™ (@ f1writers) November 14, 2015

The Englishman would not be surprised to see Fernando Alonso back in the cockpit of an F1 in 2020. “If the McLaren is fast and starts winning races again, then he will come back. »