Hamilton: Button Will be Missed

TOKYO - Lewis Hamilton says that Formula One (F1) will miss Jenson Button in next year as the veteran takes a sabbatical.

Button is making way for Stoffel Vandoorne for 2017 but has the option to return to the team in 2018. Hamilton goes back and remembers when he first watched Button on television.

“He's been a great driver for many, many years. A great asset to Formula One, he's contributed a lot,” Hamilton said.

“I remember sitting at home watching him in his first grand prix, I was still in high school hoping one day that would be me and it's kind of crazy now that we are both here.”

After a long and successful career that began in 2000, Button is getting the time to do as he wishes. Hamilton is convinced that his former team-mate will move on to bigger things and grow even stronger.

“I'm going to be living through him next year as he is on vacation, enjoying all there is to enjoy outside of the racing world for the whole year,” he said.

“He will be missed, but one day all you guys will be gone and somebody else will take your spot, same with me and life will move on. It's just the way it is. He'll move on to bigger and better things and continue to grow,” he concluded.