Button exploring 2018 racing options in US and Japan

 Jenson Button is working on plans for a serious racing programme next year and exploring a number of options, but says he does not miss racing in Formula 1.

Button retired from F1 at the end of last year before making a one-off return at Monaco in place of Fernando Alonso, and appeared in the Suzuka 1,000km Super GT race with Honda-backed Team Mugen in August.

Speaking to reporters at Suzuka ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Button said he had no desire to return to F1 full-time, but wants a racing programme elsewhere in 2018.

"Do I miss F1? No. I don't, I miss racing," Button said.

"I had fallen out of love a little bit with motorsport. I think I left it maybe a year too long racing in Formula 1.

"I spoke to Honda at the end of last year and I said would you mind if I had a bit of fun in your Super GT car, and I did at the Honda Thanks Day at the end of last year. I loved it, and that was just me on my own.

"So after that I asked them if I could do the Suzuka 1,000km, they said they thought that they could work something out. So I came here completely green in the formula, it is completely different to anything I have ever done, racing round with another category.

"We didn't get a very good result, I think we had every issue you could possibly have, but I came away and felt that I had the love back for racing. I absolutely loved it, as soon as we were finished I wanted to get back in the car and do it all again.

"It has been a while since I had that feeling, I've been itching to drive anything to be fair.

"Next year I will be racing something I don't know what yet, whether it will be in America Europe or Japan. There are few options and I want to take it properly seriously."

Button confirmed he has held talks with Honda about racing full-time in Super GT next year, and is also interested in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's DPi class.

"I discuss it directly with Honda, Yamamoto-san. He asked me after the race whether I would be interested in racing in 2018, and I said yeah definitely I have the interest, I've just driven the car and it was a right hoot," Button said.

"So its possible I'll be racing here, and obviously I love Japan anyway. It would be an experience for me to spend more time here and experience more of
Japan and the history of Japan which I love.

"I think IMSA - I don't know what it's called now - where the DPi cars race, I love the fact that there’s a selection of tubs that they can race with and they can make it their own with their aerodynamic package and power unit. There’s a few manufacturers racing there and that’s great and it’s definitely a growing motorsport in America.

"The GT category is great but I’m not sure I could be in a car being overtaken by the P2 cars. That’s something I can’t get my head around. I’d love to do Le Mans at some point but I’m not sure it’s the right time to jump in and do it.

"I think the LMP2 category is awesome, I think it’s great, there’s so many teams, there’s a lot of talented drivers but you have P1. So I don’t know, I just can’t get my head around racing a car that is 20 seconds slower than something else."