McLaren driver Jenson Button has suggested he will retire from Formula 1 after Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 36-year-old was set to have a sabbatical in 2017 with McLaren holding his place until 2018. However, the 2009 world champion told the drivers' news conference today that he is not planning on returning to the sport. "I go into this weekend thinking it's going to be my last race. I think that's the best way," Button said.

GETTY Jenson Button has confirmed he will call time on his career at the end of the championship

GETTY Jenson Button with his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso

"At this moment in time, I don't want to be racing in F1 beyond this year." "It is true that I have a contract in 2018 but at this moment in time I am not going to be racing in 2018. "The whole point of this [contract for 2018] was if in three months' time I had eaten myself stupid and I changed my mind. "But I don't want to go into this race thinking it's not my last race and it is."

GETTY Jenson Button won the 2009 World Championship with Brawn

Sunday's race will be his 305th grand prix, with only Ferrari pair Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher driving in more. He plans on keeping himself fit by targeting next year’s World Half Ironman Championships and is in talks about competing in sports cars and possibly Le Mans. But Button, who began his career with Williams in 2000, is ready to answer any call from McLaren should Fernando Alonso or his replacement Stoffel Vandoorne be sidelined. He said: “I’ll be keeping myself fit – probably fitter than I am now as I want to qualify for the half ironman. “But if this weekend is my last race then I can walk away with no regrets. I have achieved what I wanted to achieve.

Fascinating F1 Facts Sun, July 24, 2016 As the Formula 1 Grand Prix revs up for action, Haynes has delved into its extensive archive of imagery which has appeared in its numerous F1 Owner’s Workshop Manuals to give us 16 fascinating F1 Facts. Play slideshow Ford 1 of 16 Fittipaldi, who took his final Grand Prix win at Silverstone in 1975, said of the car: 'It would tell you what it was going to do before it did it.'