The hand of friendship extended down the paddock on Thursday, one Brit to another — world champion to world champion — when Lewis Hamilton told McLaren they do not need a new driver but a new car. It was some kind of balm to Jenson Button as he sat in Interlagos, the place where he once spent the happiest moment of his life — hugging his father after winning the title in 2009 — but now contemplating the end of his Formula One career. Button is about to be released by McLaren to be replaced by Fernando Alonso after the final race in Abu Dhabi in a fortnight, hence he can hardly understand it, having outscored his team-mate Kevin Magnussen 94-53.
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Jenson Button is set to be replaced by Fernando Alonso at McLaren
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Former team-mate Lewis Hamilton admits he finds the decision baffling
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Hamilton says it is the car that needs changing and not Button
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The 29-year-old says there are not many drivers around better than Button
He might be bitter at his treatment by @placeholder, but otherwise he was content as he talked about his future and his past with a smile on his face.