Lewis Hamilton has urged McLaren to retain Jenson Button next season with the British driver’s future in limbo.
Button, in the midst of his worst-ever season, could be without a drive next term as McLaren weigh up whether to replace the 2009 world champion.
Kevin Magnussen, who was forced to move sideways after one year following Fernando Alonso’s arrival at the team, and Stoffel Vandoorne, the runaway leader in F1’s feeder GP2 series, are McLaren’s alternative options.
Button had been linked with a romantic move back to Williams – the team where he began his F1 journey in 2000 – but the British team revealed on Thursday that they will be retaining Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas next season.
But Hamilton, outscored by Button in their three seasons together at McLaren, insists his former team should keep faith with the Englishman.
“He is one of the greatest that we have here and I think experience still stands for enough,” said Hamilton. “That team needs direction and that team needs a lot of help and they are going to need those two drivers during that period.
“If they had two young guns I don’t know if they would progress as much as they would with someone who has so much knowledge of the car and the team, and who helps motivate the team.”
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Hamilton, on top in both practice sessions at Monza yesterday, as he closes in on a third championship, enjoyed his formative years at McLaren.
His move to Mercedes in 2013 was widely criticised, but while Hamilton has enjoyed 18 victories with the Silver Arrows, McLaren have not triumphed since his departure.
They again struggled with Button completing only three laps in the second practice session due to a technical glitch yesterday.
“It feels very weird when you look at the board and you think of this historic team fighting with Manor,” Hamilton added. “I still cannot believe today that the team has got to this point. There is only one way for them which is a good thing. It can only get better and I am sure they are working as hard as they can.”
