Jordan: Button should axe sabbatical and retire

Nov.24 - Jenson Button has been urged to turn his forthcoming 'sabbatical' into full retirement from formula one.

The 2009 world champion said he was convinced by McLaren's now-departing supremo Ron Dennis to take a break from his 17-year F1 career next year and leave the door open to a 2018 return.

But Eddie Jordan, a former team owner turned controversial pundit for British television, told the Mirror newspaper: "If the fire and the commitment and the passion and the drive are still there, why take a year off?

"I don't get that. Sabbaticals do not work," he insisted.

"If I was his manager I'd be doing everything to say 'Jenson, you've had an unbelievable time, let's pull the shutter down, move the page on and don't be afraid to retire'," said Jordan.

But as it stands, it is instead merely likely that Abu Dhabi this weekend will be Button's 308th and final grand prix, in a career that netted 15 wins and the 2009 title.

"He was a worthy champion," said Jordan. "If you are talking the top two or three drivers, the Schumachers and Sennas, then he is not with them.

"But he will go down as one of Britain's best drivers and one of Britain's greatest sportsmen and that's how he should be remembered."

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