F1: Button narrowing down 2017 options

Jenson Button is narrowing down his options for his 2017 sabbatical from Formula 1, ruling out Le Mans but closing on a Super GT one-off and an American-focused rallycross program.

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The 2009 world champion will remain a McLaren-Honda F1 reserve driver and ambassador when he pauses his grand prix racing career next season and is keen to try other forms of motorsport.

Asked if he was free to do whatever he wanted or had to stick to Honda machinery, Button replied "I don't think it has to be, but obviously those are the easiest programs for me to do.

"I'm sure they wouldn't want me racing for a main competitor of Honda, which is completely understandable. I won't be racing at Le Mans next year, for example. The right opportunity isn't there. But hopefully it will be in the future."

He cited the Suzuka 1000km – showpiece round of Japan's Super GT Championship – and the U.S.-based Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship as the most likely current options.

"I might do the Suzuka 1000 (below) in Super GT – it would be nice if that worked out but it's just logistics, really," Button said.

"Apart from that, I might do some rallycross in America and do some testing in something else in rallycross.

"There's lots I can do and I've just got to choose how much I really want to do next year and if I want more of a rest."

Honda's rallycross efforts are focused on the GRC rather than the FIA's European-based World Rallycross Championship, which Button intimated meant he would only race in the category in the U.S.

Top European RX squad OlsbergsMSE runs the Red Bull-backed Honda GRC team (below), fielding 2014 champion Joni Wiman and '15 runner-up Sebastian Eriksson in the program's debut season this year. Button is convinced rallycross will benefit from manufacturers exiting other forms of motorsport.

Asked if he might contest a full rallycross season in 2017, Button replied: "That won't happen next year. In the future, definitely.

"It's a massively growing sport, especially with Audi pulling out of Le Mans and VW pulling out of rallying. I know their main aim is not rallycross but it will definitely help their rallycross programme."

Button reiterated that he did not want the commitment of a full-time 2017 racing program, saying that was why the Suzuka 1000km had more appeal than a full Super GT campaign.

"I don't want to do the whole season. I might as well be in Formula 1," he said. "If I do race in Japan it'll just be in the Suzuka 1000km in Super GT."

However, he underlined he had plenty of motivation for whatever he did compete in next season.

"I'm very excited about racing in the future," said Button. "It's just got to be somewhere else. I've raced one thing for 17 years. I want to race something else. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport but sometimes you need a change."

Originally on Autosport.com